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I DOCTOR 



HUNTER 



A COMEDY DRAMA. 

IN FOUR ACTS 

• .BY 

ALDEN JOSEPH BLETHEN, JR. 




AUTHOR'S EDITION 



DOCTOR 



HUNTER 



A COMEDY DRAMA, 

IN FOUR ACTS 
BY 

ALDEN JOSEPH BLETHEN, Jr. 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDI 




30^^^ 



^^v 



Minneapolis, Minn. 
May, 1895. 



COPYRIGHTED 1895 

BY 

ALDEN JOSEPH BLETHEN, JR 



T''P92-008667 



ARGUMENT. 

On the east bank of the Mississippi riA'or a few- 
miles north of the Twin Cities of Rock-Tshmd and Mo- 
line, Illinois, lies the little "dead and buried" town of 
Hampton. In its day a prosperous mining' town, it 
lies now asleep in the narrow bottom between the high 
bluffs and the wide river. In this town by whose door- 
way the great river sweeps along, its polished surface 
extending a full mile between Hampton and the Iowa 
shore, I spent two years of my childhood. In laying 
the plot of "Doctor Hunter" in Hampton, therefore, I 
l)uild my brain story amid scenes which are to me beau- 
tiful realities. That the characters are drawai largely 
af i-er living models, I wall not deny. But I affirm that 
the story is my own, to the best of my knowledge. 

The story in brief is this: 

Doctor Hunter is a man of fifty-five. A native of 
Maine, and a resident of Riverside (Hampton) for uuuiy 
years. He isthe type of country doctor which ranks with 
the village curate and the village blacksmith. His 
modest homestead and his ])rofessional standing ar(^ 
his eptire wealth. A son, Harry Hunter, is, upon the 
opening of the story in April, 1895, about to graduate 
from a Chicago Medical College. The Doctor, the son. 
and a. daughter, Annie, constitute the family, as the 
Doctor has been ten years a widower. In the town of 
Riverside there lives a Capt. Rushfoi-d, another 
Mainite, who came West with Hunter, and whose 
daughter, Fanchon, is to wed the newly graduated 
Dr. Hunter, Jr., in the following June. His son's ap 
jn-oaching marriage has taken the old Doctor in fancy 
back to Maine, and sent him musing over ante-bellum 
times, and uj^on an ante-bellum sweatheart, named 
Harriet Josselyn. Harriet w-as a Quaker. She believed 
that the North should buy the South's slave ])ro])erty 
and then proclaim emancipation. Her Puritan train- 



ino- conld not stomach war, and when the young Dr. 
Hunter marched off with the boys, as an army surgeon, 
he left behind him, besides a weeping mother and a 
patroitic father, a broken engagement. When 'this 
story opens, Harriet is still an old maid. One of those 
plump, red-cheeked, grey-haired, whole-souled New 
England women whose maiden estate sits well upon 
her forty-five years of Christian living. Through 
Harry Hunter and Fanchon Rushford, the Doctor has 
invited his ante-bellum sweetheart to visit Riverside, 
and has hinted that the fires that once burned have re- 
vived. She has consented to come, and is exjjected to 
be present when Harry arrives home with his diploma. 

At the opening of the action, the Rushford home 
is shown, with Fanchon down with typhoid fever. This 
introduces the Doctor in his own kingdom, shows 
the relation of the two families, and gives the atmos- 
phere to the setting of the piece and the key to the 
story. 

Scene two show^s Harry Hunter and his college 
chum, Richard McClellan, in their apartments in 
Chicago. McClellan is young man of independent in 
come, and is studying medicine for the love of it. He 
is also drifting into gambling habits, and this scene 
shows him in his first serious losing game. Two card 
sharks, Smith and Brown, are playing Harry and Mc- 
Clellan. Harry withdraw^s after the game reaches the 
limit of his scanty purse. McClellan then foolishlv 
goes against the two sharks, and passes his I. O. U.'s, 
which are accepted with Harry Hunter's name en- 
dorsed "as a witness," as Brown says. McClellan 
promises Harry that, in case of loss, he will pay the 
notes, and Harry signs reluctantly. McClellan loses 
five thousand dollars in this w-ay, and then, realizing 
that the cards are stacked, winds the game up in a row. 
The notes go with Smith and Brown, however, and are 
made to serve as the "obstacle" in the play. 

The act closes by a tableau showing the darkened 
students' den, with Harry by the open fire and through 
the back the sick room at Riverside with the Doctor 
watching the sick girl. The contrast between the care- 
less students' den, and the home where lies his fevered 
fiancee, and between the sterling father and the care- 
less son is thus shown. 



Act second is laid in the Doctor's dooryard, over- 
looking- the great river. It is June and Harry arrives 
fresh from his graduation. MeClellan accompanies 
him, Harriet Josselyn is there and the act proceeds 
with three love stories, the Doctor and Harriet, Harry 
and the convalescent Fanchon, and MeClellan and 
Annie Hunter. Private Pettengil, a Grand Army com- 
rade; "Clumsy" Rushford; "St. Louis," a negro pen- 
sioner of the Doctor; Capt. and Mother Rushford; and 
Nan Rushford form the background in this village 
scene. It is band meeting night, and while the moon 
rises over the grand old river, the village band plays 
in its down town hall, distant yet distinctly heard from 
the Doctor's door yard. All goes well with the lovers. 
^MeClellan and Annie simply get into the spirit of fall- 
ing in love. Harry and Fanchon discuss their wed- 
ding, though the subject is painful to liim through the 
consciousness of those unpaid gamblers' notes, which 
bear his endorsement. Harriet and the Doctor bury 
old hatchets, and she all but consents to remain in 
Riverside as Mrs. Dr. Hunter, but thinks her decision 
should await the occurring of some circumstance 
which will show her what is best to be done. 

Then the presence of outside plot is felt. Deacon 
Cross, the village lawyer, has been retained by the 
Chicago card sharks to force the Doctor into paying 
the gambling notes, under penalty of exposing Harry's 
part in the game. Cross springs his mine beneath the 
unsuspecting Doctor's feet. He is more delighted at 
the Doctor's mental agony, than at the threatened 
finniuial loss, as he hates the name of Hunter, owing to 
past legal contests with the Doctor. Harry hurriedly 
explains that tlie notes were made by another and tliat 
he simply endorsed. MeClellan is about to explain and 
assume the rightful responsibility for the notes when 
Harry forbids it, as he has seen his sister's evident in- 
terest in his room-mate-gambler and wants to shield 
her feelings. Upon this the Doctor orders Cross off 
his premises, saying that he will mortgage his little 
property and take up the notes. Harriet steps in here 
Jind forbids tlie mortgage, and accepts her position as 
a partner of the county doctor's joys and sorrow's by 
announcing that she has her own modest fortune and 
offering the Doctor a loan of five thousand dollars. 



8 

The third act is hiid in a Chicajn^o gamblin*,^ saloon. 
McClellan has procured a secession of hostilities bv 
promising the two card sharks that he will transfer 
certain property to them in two weeks' time. Mean- 
time he has planned a "stacked" game to trap the two 
card sharks and recover the notes. A certain gamb- 
ling house keeper named Jones is under obligations^ 
to him and consents to do the "stacking.''' Dr. Hunter 
is taught to play poker and becomes the decoy, as the 
two sharks. Smith and Brown, do not know him. 
Harry and Private Pettengil are hidden away in the 
gambling house and appear at a signal to quell the 
row which occurs upon the discovery of the "stack" by 
the two sharks. Jones, the gambling-house keeper, 
furnishes the Doctor with money to play, and when he 
goes beyond them. Smith and Brown, by consent, pro- 
duce the notes. Now for the first time Doctor Hunter 
discovers that it was McClellan who made the notes, 
and his surprise betrays the "game." McClellan 
hurriedly gives the signal, and exposes the Doctor's 
hand of four aces. Jones grabs the currency, and the 
Doctor flees with the notes under cover of Harry and 
Pettengil, who pull their guns on the two enraged card 
sharks. During the first of act three Harry tells ]Mc 
Clellan of Annie's love for him and demands that he 
either give up cards, or let Annie know that he is 
gambler. After a sharp debate, in which Harry 
threatens to bring Annie to Chicago and show her the 
true state of things, McC'lellan promises to let her 
know the truth, provided he be allowed to do it in hib 
own way. He admits his love for the cards, and 
chooses the game as his mistress. 

In act fourth, preparations for the double wedding 
are going on at the Rushford homestead. The two 
Doctors Hunter are to be married. Annie demands ot 
her father to know why McClellan has not been invited 
to the wedding. He will not discuss the matter with 
her and forbids her thinking of him. She determines 
to run away to Chicago to find McClellan. She does 
not realize what such a step means, her one purpose 
being to find her idol. She confides in the old soldier, 
who, finding that he cannot dissuade her, promises to 
go as her escort, and then sets about instantly to pre- 
vent the whole affair and to keep it all from the Doctor. 



9 

He reminds Harry of McClellau's promise, and Harry 
at once wires McClellan to keep that promise instantly. 
Report comes that "Chicago" cannot iind McClelhin 
at the given address. Then, wlien all seems lost, the 
weddings abont to occur, during the ceremony of 
which Annie has planned to run away, Harry finds a 
letter from McClellan in an express package, which has 
been mislaid and not yet opened. Tlie letter ac- 
companies a wedding present, and makes a clean 
breast of his gambling over his own signature. It now 
remains to show this to Annie. Harry and l*ettengil 
turn cowards and Harriet is forced into the service. 
She breaks the news to Annie. The Doctor ai»pears, 
and while all are afraid that Annie will tell him the 
truth, which they have tried to keep from him, she 
shows the depth of her heart-break by crying on her 
father's breast, and begging him never to allow her to 
leave her home, but to keep her always with him. The 
Doctor thinks her emotion is caused by the weddings 
of her father and brother and humors her. The min- 
ister announces that the time is at hand for the cere- 
mony. All start for the parlor when the outer door 
opens, revealing McClellan. The Doctor demands to 
know the object of his visit, and McClellan says simply, 
that he has come to ask for Annie, to begin life anew, 
and to ask their help in his conversion. The Doctor 
bids him enter, and the third love story is happily 
closed. 

ALDEN JOSEPH BLETHEN, JR. 



n 



CAST. 

MEN. 

DOCTOR HUNTER A Conntry Physician 

HARRY HUNTER The Doctor's Son 

RICHARD M'CLELLAN 

A Medical Student, Harry's Cluing 

PRIVATE PETTENCtIL G. A. R. Comrade 

CAP'T RUvSHFORD 

A Mississippi Steamboat Captain 

(a) "CLUMSEY" RUSHFORD A Vilhioe Product 

(h) DEACON CROSS The Villaue Lawyer 

(c) REV. MR. HARPER The Villaoe Preacher 

(d) "ST. LOUIS" (NeoTo) A River Waif 

(a) MR. JONES Proprietor of "210," Chicaj]jo 

(b) MR. SMITH Card Shark 

(c) MR. BROWN Card Slmrh 

(d) SCADS Waiter Engajred at "210" 

WOMEN. 

HARRIET JOSSELYN 

Of Pembrooh. Maine, the Doctor's Ante-l*ellnm 

Sweetheart. 

ANNIE HUNTER The Doctor's Dauo-hter 

MOTHER RUSHFORD The Captain's Wife 

FANCHON RUSHFORD Harry's Betrothed 

NAN RUSHFORD The Captain's Yonnj^est 

NOTE— The characters marked aa, bb. cc and dd. 
can be "doubled." 



12 



DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS. 

DOCTOR HUNTER— A widower of fifty years of age, 
gray, hale and hearty. Good humored, but accus- 
tomed to be obeyed, through giving directions in 
the siclv room. Proud of his son, and anxious for 
liis success. Drops a little into the dialect of the 
country. Has -a habit of saying "N-n-n-Yes" to 
everything. Drawls the "n-n-n" and then winds 
up with a quick "yes." Dresses in dark, ready 
made I»rince Alberts. 

HARRY HUNTER— Quiet, gentlemanly, frank. Anx- 
ious to do right. Feels his troubles keenly. 
Dresses quietlv, but in good taste. 

RICHARD M'CLELLAN— A gentleman gambler. 
Has an independent income. City bred. Dresses 
in the latest fashions. Good looking, polishea, 
"smooth" fellow. Gives up medicine for cards, 
And then gives up cards for Annie, 

I'RIVATE PETTENGIL— A Grand Army veteran. 
Broken in health, and alone in the world. Full of 
nature's sunshine, and has a streak of quaint 
philosophy. Has a pension of |!8 a month, and 
believes himself to be earning his living by work- 
ing for Dr. Hunter. In reality he is a burden to 
the doctor. Prides himself on his small pension, 
and refuses to apply for a larger one out of sheer 
patriotism. He has lived so long in Dr. Hunter's 
family that he is called Uncle Cyrus by all the 
family and the neighbors. Dresses in shoddy G. 
A. R. blue clothes. 

r^APTAIN RUSHFORD— Middle aged. Tall, heavy 
set, rough and good natured. Talks roughly, 
swears easily and laughs at any and all times from 
his own good nature. Rough village clothes. 

"CLUMSEY" RUSHFORD— A fat boy of 19 years. 
Lazv and bashful. 

judge' cross— Stiff backed country lawyer, and 
church member. 

REV. MR. HARPER— Dignified, quiet, honest, Chris- 
tiah gentleman. 

"ST. LOUIS" — A negro boy of 16 years, supported by 
Dr. Hunter. A chore-boy. Bright and livelv. 



13 

MR. JONES — Typical Gambling-house i)io])i'ietoi'. 
Heavy, fat, florid. Dresses richly, talks but little. 

MR. SMITH AND MR. BROWN— Sports, card sharps. 
The dialect of the Bowery. Flashy clothes. Loud 
talk. Insolent, though not tough. 

SCADS — Negro waiter. Bright. Proud of Ids posi- 
tion and his livery. Eager for tips. 

WOMEN. 

HARRIET JOSSELYN— Spinster, forty-five years of 

age. Plump, rosy, erect, grey-haired. Ladylike 

and lovable. Has worshipped her youthful idol all 

her life. 
ANNIE HUNTER— A country beauty of 20 years. 

Honestly loves McClellan and innocently intends 

to find him. 
MOTHER RUSHFORD— Good American village wife 

and mother. 
FANCHON RUSHFORD— Quiet, ladylike. Good 

sterling American girl of 22. 
NAN RUSHFORD— Romping country girl of IG. 



15 



DOCTOR HFNTER. 

ACT I. 
(April. A tnim]i; nnd a cold dp<'k.) 

i^CENE ONE— (R. and L. mean rioht and loft front 
the front.) 

LIVING ROOM IN CAP'T RUSHFORD'S HOME, 
RIVERSIDE, ROCK-ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SIMPLE FURNISH- 
INGS, NO CARPET. FIREPLACE AT CENTER 
BACK WITH FIRE. OLD CLOCK ON MANTLE 
OVER FIREPLACE. DOOR AT RIGHT OF BACK, 
OI»ENING OUT OF DOORS. WINDOW ON OPPO- 
SITE SIDE OF FIREPLACE. DOORS R. IT. E. TO 
(JO UP STAIRS, AND L. U. E. TO GO TO PARLOR. 
AT LEFT IS ROUND TABLE, LAMP AND EASY 
CHAIR. WOODEN ROCKER BY FIREPLACE. 
AT RIGHT OF CENTRE IS BED, SIDE TO FRONT. 
EVERTHING SET BACK OF SECOND GROOVE. 
QUIET ACTION AND SPEECH TO SUIT SICK 
ROOM. 

DISCOVERED. FANCHON RUSHFORD IN 
BED. LOOKS VERY ILL. CAP'T RUSHFORD 
STANDS BY THE FOOT BOARD IN HIS SHIRT 
SLEEVES. MOTHER RUSHFORD AT TABLE 
WITH MEDICINE BOTTLES. "CLUMSY" IS 
ASLEEP IN ROCKER BY THE FIRE. NAN SITS 
ON SIDE OF BED. 

CAP'T RUSHFORD. W^hat's the time, Mother? 

NAN (GOES TO MANTLE). Nine o'clock. 

CAP'T. ^\ hen did the Doctor sav he'd come? 

MOTHER R. Not till I sent for him. (CROSSES 
TO SICK GIRL. FEELS HER BROW AND PULSE. 
THEN WALKS TO THE \\'INI)OW. CAP'T FOL 
LOWS. NAN RETURNS TO THE BED.) 



16 

CAP'T. Don't yer think we'd better send fer him. 
Mother? 

MOTHER R. Yes, we must send. Have "Clum- 
sy" go. 

CAP'T (SHAKING "CLUMSY" TO WAKEN 
HIM). Here you, wake up. Go to the Doctor's of- 
fice and get him for Fan. 

NAN. It's after mail time. He's most likely at 
home. 

CAP'T (TO "CLUMSY"). Then oo to the house 
first. 

"CLUMSY" (AFTER A YAWN). It's band meet- 
in' night. Can't I go down to the hall after I get him? 
I want to hear the band plav. 

MOTHER R. I should think "Clumsy" Rushford, 
that with your sister as sick as she is, you would want 
to stay at home. 

CLUMSY. She ain't goin' to die, is she, Ma? 

MOTHER R. I don't know. (TURNS TO WIN- 
DOW TO HIDE HER TEARS.) 

CAP'T. Go on, now. After you git th' Doctor, I 
don't ker what ye do. 

(EXIT CLUMSY OUT OF DOORS.) 

FANCHON (FAINTLY). Nan. 

NAN. Yes, dear. 

FANCHON. Have you written to Harry today? 

NAN. Yes, dear, and posted the letter. It went 
uj) on the early train. 

FANCHON. What did you write about me? 

NAN. I told him you were about the same. 

FANCHON. That's right. Keep telling him 
that. Don't let him worry about me. He Avould neg- 
lect his studies. 

MOTHER R. We won't let him worry, dear. 

NAN. Well, if I was Harry Hunter off there in 
(^hicago and the girl I was going to marry was sick I'd 
want to know it! 

MOTHER R. That's very true, dear, but Harry 
must study hard as this is his graduating year. This 
news would upset him. 

(ENTER PRIVATE PETTENGIL FROM OUT- 
DOORS.) 

PRIVATE PETTENGIL. Evenin', Cap'n. 



CA1*'T. Evenin' Cy. 

PET. Eveniii', Mother 'u' Nan. 

(MOTHER NODl-^.) 

NAN. Good evening', Uncle Cy. 

PET. Fanny ain't no better? 

CAPT (QUIETLY). No. 

PET. Well, I'm sorry. What's Doe. say? 

CAP'T. He ain't be^n here sense noon. 

PET. Don't yer want him? (STARTS TO GO.) 

MOTHER R.' "Clumsy 's" oone to o-et him, Cy. 
Thank you. 

PET (STANDS BACK TO FIRE). Ef Doc. don't 
worry I wouldn't, if I was you. Eeverybody says 'at it 
Doc. takes otT his coat, a patient 's ^ot to be real sick 
to fool 'im. 

MOTHER. R. I hope Fanchon hasn't made up lun- 
mind to test his powers. 

FANCHON. No. Mother. 

NAN. You think lots of Doctor Hunter, don't 
you, T^ncle Cy? 

PET. Yes, Nan. He's been a good friend to me. 
All through the army and sense. I'm pretty much bat- 
tered, an' I ain't much use, but if you could see down 
in my old heart vou'd find it chuck full of little doctors. 

MOTHER R. Is the Doctor at the office? 

PET. No. He went home right after the mail 
came in. I locked up at nine. I most generally do, 
(nery night now. It lets him be a little freer. Heard 
from Harry lately? 

MOTHER R. Letter this niornin'. 

PET. Tli-huh. B'lieve if I had it to do all over 
I'd be a medical student like him, an' then be a 
doctor. It's the charitablist business thev is. 

CAP'T. That's right, Cy. 

PET. I never seen a man so tuck up with his son 
as Doc. be. Lord, say, he's powerful more anxious for 
Harry to ffei liis diplomy an' git home here to i)ractice. 
than Harry be I T'otiier day I seen him drawin' letters 
on a card an' after he'd gone I hunted it up. ^Vhat 
yer think? He drawed a sign to put up in place of the 
old tin one at the office. It was "Hunter and Son, Phy- 
sician and Surgeons." 

CAP'T. You don't say! 

PET. Oh, he's thinkin' 'bout that all the time. 



18 

MOTHER R. Does lie ever saj anything about 
that Miss Josselvn back in Maine? 

PET (THOUGHTFULLY). No-o-o. He don't 
SAY nothin'. But I take it 'at love makes folks quiet 
sometimes. 

MOTHER R. Do you really think that Doctor 
Hunter loves her? It seems odd to me. 

CAP'T. He 's been a widower ten year. Mother. 

MOTHER R. Ye-e-es. 

PET. I ain't fond of seein' old folks "it hitched 
up. Now, I lost my whole family right after the army, 
but I ain't never hitched up again. (CHUCKLES.) 
P'r'eps I couldn't ef I tried ! 

CAP'T. Huh, ha-ha-ha. 

MOTHER R. Shh-h-h-h-h-h. Don't laugh so loud 
Father! 

PET. But, talkin' of Doc, he was in love with the 
Josselyn woman, back in Maine, 'fore the army. An' it's 
only natural that when he sees his boy Harry, and 
Fanny, here, gettin' ready fer a weddin', an' he a wid- 
ower, 't he should git ter reminissin' some! 

CAP'T. Course it ain't. I hope they git mar- 
ried! 

MOTHER R. It's queer she never married, after 
he did. 

PET. No it ain't. Mother Rushford, 'f you'll 'low 
me. After th' army there was less young men in Maine 
than before. An' similar, after the western fever got 
in there they was another lot of 'em slid away. It ain't 
so very queer, either. 

MOTHER R. But if she is still such a nice lady, 
as Harry says she is, it's queer she didn't have other 
chances. ' 

NAN. Did you ever see her. Ma? 

MOTHER R. Once, before I was married. She- 
was very pretty then. 

NAN. My, didn't Harry rave when he came back 
from Maine last fall! It was Aunt Hattibelle, Aunt 
Hattibelle, all the time. 

CAP'T. What made Harrv call her aunt? 

PET (CHUCKLES). Said 'he wanted to get her 
into the family gradually. 

NAN. Same as we call you Uncle Cy. Because 
you seem to be one of our family, and the Doctor's 
family, and everybody's family. 



19 

(WPT. That's right, Cy. Huh-ha-ha-ha 1 

PET. Yes. I guess I sort o' belong to the town. 

:\IOTHER R. Well, it's a queer piece of match- 
making. If Harry succeeds in getting the Doctor 
married again I believe he will be happier than in his 
own wedding. 

NAN. It will be a new kind of double wedding, 
Uncle Cv. You will have to be the Doctor's best man. 

l»Et. Git out! (CHUCKLES.) Me stand up 
long o' him! Shucks, I'd be too skeered! 

NAK Skeered? What, you? An old soldier? 

PET. Now, see here, child. They's lost o' things^ 
a durn sight more skeery than gunpowder, an' one o' 
them is-; a middle-aged weddin' (CPII^CKLES.) 

(WPT. That's about right, Cy. But you'll have 
to stand up, all the same. 

PET. Who's goin' to be the other best man? 

NAN. I don't think Harry knows yet When ho 
was home Christmas he spoke of his room-mate, ^Ir. 
McClellan, and Fanchon suggested that they ask him to 
come. But Harry didn't say for sure. 

PET. Well, I kinder hope he wont be one o' them 
city fellers. My old uniform wouldn't look good lined 
up aside o' one o' them long coats they wears. 

CAP'T. Them Grand Army buttons '11 carry you 
through, (y. 

I'ET. ' That's right, Cap'n. Them buttons stand 
f(u- what I was, an' what I done. That beats broad- 
cloth what costs only so much a vard! 

CAP,T. You bet! 

NAN. Why don't you save up and surprise him 
by a])pearing in a new suit? 

PET. Save up? On a pension of eight dollars a 
month? An' half of that goin' regular for 'rhuraatiz" 
medicine? No. Guess it '11 be the old coat, or no 
Pettengil. 

NAN. But you don't spend the other four. The 
Doctor gives vou vour board and home for vour work. 

PET (QUIETLY). ITh-huh. Doc. keeps me an' 
"St. Louis" for our work. That's right. But I have 

to buy baccy. And then (SADLY) you know -Nan 

the cemetery lot, with its five graves, 

down in Maine, ain't all paid for— » — yit. 

CAP'T. No! You oughter be more keerful. Nan 
Rushford! 



20 

NAN, Oh, I'm sorry I said it! Really, Uncle Gy, 
I didn't mean it like that! 

(ENTER DOCTOR HUNTER FROM OUT OP 
DOORS. SMALL MEDICINE CHEST IN HIS HAND. 
"CLUMSY' FOLLOWS, AND DROPS INTO 
ROCKER.) 

DOCTOR HUNTER (CHEERILY). Thought you 
had better send for me, did ye? 

CAP'T. Uh-huh. Guess we need ye. Doc. 

DOCTOR. Well, how's the sick gik, anyway? 

(DOCTOR PLACES MEDICINE (.^HEST ON 
TABLE AND SITS IN CHAIR BESIDE BED. 

FEELS PATIENT'S BROW AND PULSE. 
MOTHER STANDS AT FOOT BOARD.) 

DOCTOR. Let's see the tongue. N-n-n-yes. How 
do you feel? As though you could sleep? 

FAN. No, Doctor. I'm burning U]). 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Then I'll have to make ye 
sleep, and you'll haye to take something to start the 
sweat (HE PLACES PHYSICIAN'S THER^MOME- 
TER IN HER MOUTH AFTER STRIKING THE 
MERCURY INTO THE BULB). Heard from Harry 
today ? 

NAN. Yes, sir. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes! The idea of my haying to 
come here for news about him. (CHUCKLES.) But 
I suppose you will have him all to yourselves sometime, 
so I might as well begin to get used to it. Locked up 
Cy? 

PET. Yes, sir. Want somethin"? 

DOC. Wait till I see. (PUTS ON GLASSES 
AND READS THERMOMETER. THEN COUNTS 
I»ULSE BY WATCH. STUDIES FANCHON'S 
FACE A MOMENT. CROSSES SLOWLY TO LEFT 
AND MOTIONS MOTHER RUSHFORD TO HIM.) 
Guess we'll have to call it typhoid, Mother. 

MOTHER R. (BRAVELY.) Oh, dear. That 
means a terrible siege. 

CAP'T. (QUIETLY.) It's all right. Mother. 
Doc's good for th' typhoid, 

DOC. (QUIETLY TO PETTENGIL). Go to the of- 
fice an' get my bng medicine chest for me, Cy. Then 
go tell Annie to give you my slippers. Tell her I'm 



21 

going to stay here tonight. You better sleep down 
stairs in my room. If any one comes for me, tell 'em 
to come here and tap on the window, easy. 

PET. All right, Doc. What'll I say about 
Fanny? 

DOC. Nothing. Get my slippers. Take "Clumsy'' 
if you want to, and them you needn't came back. 

(PETTENGIL ROU'SES THE DROUSY "CLUM- 
SY.") 

PET. Come on. Clumsy. AVe'll go hear the band 
plav! 

EXIT PETTENGIL AND "CLUMSY" OUT OF 
DOORS.) 

DOCTOR. Mother, j^ou better get Mrs, Thompson 
to come over. She's a good nurse. You'll need some- 
one. 

(GOES TO- FANCHON. TALKS TO HER TO 
DIVERT HER MIND, WHILE HE FIXES POW- 
DERS, ETC., FROM HIS SMALL MEDICINE (^HEST 
ON THE TABLE NEAR THE BED.) 

DOCTOR. Now, I'll just fix you, "good and 
plenty," as Harry says. We'll have you out o' this in 
a week. (GIVES MOTHER A KNOWING GLANCE.) 
If you and Harry are going to be married next June, 
you can't get all those clothes and things made by 
gettin' sick. 

FAN, I'm not much good tonight. Doctor. 

DOC. Oh, shucks! I know all about you! 
When was she born, Cap'n? 

CAP'T, Seyenty-two. 

NAN. Seyenty-three, Father! She's only twen- 
ty-two. 

DOCTOR. Was it that long ago? And in the 
dead of winter. That was back in Maine, three years 
after Harry was born. I was there, when you oj^ened 
you eyes and hollered, first time! Your Pa and me 
came West together, an' I'ye had to cure all your little 
stomach aches eyer since. Do you think you can get 
away from the old Doctor now? N-no-sir-ree! I'll 
have voii out ])lantin' pansies in a week. (CHUCKLES, 
THEN LOOKS AT MOTHER RUSHFORD TO SHOW 
HER THAT HE IS MAKING IT ALL.) 

CAP'T. Pansies nothin'! We'll give her olean- 
ders. Doc. 



22 

DOCTOR How's yer garden, Cap'n? 

CAP'T. Onions up. 

DOCTOR. Up! In April? What ye do, sot 'em 
out? 

CAPT. Plowed up, Doc. Huli-ba-ha-ha ! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-ves. I thouolit ve was kiddin'. 

(A DEAD SILENCE. THEN CAPTAIN RUSH- 
FORD SAYS, IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP UP THE 
TALK.) 

CAP'T. I was savin' to Mother t'other day. Doc, 
We ain't never had no other doctor but you. 
Mother wouldn't feel safe if you weren't in town. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-ves. 

MOTHER R. Riverside without Doctor Huntei 
and Private Pettengil would be like Friday night with- 
out any band meetin'. 

DOCTOR. 'Tis band night, ain't it? Pettengil 
says the boys are practicing up to play for a prize at 
Springfield at the State Fair next fall. 

CAP'T. S'pose you'll have to take him there. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Pettengil thinks he's pay- 
in' his way in this world. He most generally ain't 
much of a burden, but State Fair times an' G. A. R. 
meets he gets to marchin' around as independent as old 
Nick himself! 

MOTHER R. But that doesn't spoil him. Poor 
old Pettengil. He's had a liard time. The plaugey 
army ruined him, and the good Lord took his wife an' 
family. He's got more good reason to be ugly and 
cross than everyone in town put together, and he's the 
most sunshiny ! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. He's a curious one. He 
thinks he's saving his Nation's money by hanging to 
that old eight dollar pension. I could get him a decent 
sized one if he'd let me. When 1 want to fun him a 
little I ask him when I shall apply for that raise. Theii 
he limbers ujit his guns and we fight the whole army or 
(he Potomac all over again. 

CAP,T. Heard from Miss Josselvn latelv? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-ves. (NERVOt'SLY KNOCKS 
OVER ONE OF HIS BOTTLES. THEN SETS IT UP 
WITH A SNAP. Mf>THER RUSHFORD NOTICES 
Hlf' CONFUSION AND MOTIONS TFIE CAPTAIN 
TO KEEP STILL.) 



23 

CAP'T. Hope ye had good news, Doc. 

DOCTOR. Well, I tell ye, Cap'ii. I don't know 
as the old Doctor's got much right to begin courtin' all 
over again. But between Harry and this weddiu', an' 
all of ye, I've gone too far to quit now. 

MOTHER R. I hope you wouldn't want to quit, 
Doctor ! 

DOCTOR. Well, I tell ye. It feels kind o' funny 
to be lookin' forward to seein' a girl ye ain't seen for 
twenty-five years, an' she the girl ye was once 
spoons on. 

CAP'T. Huh, ha-ha-ha. He-e-e-e! Girl! Gosh, 
Doc, she must be fiftv! 

DOCTOR. Forty-five, Cai)'n. 

MOTHER R. You ain't goin' East , Doctor? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-no. But Harry's got it fixed 
with her to come here some time next summer. 

CAP'T, Well, I be damned. She's goin' to do the 
courtin'! Huh, ha-ha-ha. 

DOCTOR. N-n-no-sir-ree! If she gets as far m^ 
the Mississippi river, I'll attend to all that! 

CAP'T. (IMMENSELY PLEASED.) I bet ve 
will, too. Doc! (CHUCKLES.) 

(ENTER "CLUMSY" AND ANNIE HUNTER 
FROM OI^T DOORS. "CLUMSY" HAS THE DOC- 
TOR'S MEDICINE CHEST, AND ANNIE HxVS HIS 
SLPPERS. ANNIE GOES DIRECTLY TO FAN- 
CHON.) 

ANNIE. Has she reallv the tvphoid, Father? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Here you, "Clumsy,'' pull 
off mv boots. An' if vou make any noise, I'll vaccinate 
ve! 

("CLUMSY" STRADDLES THE DOCTOR'S 
ROOTS AND PULLS THEM OFF. DOCTOR DONS 
THE SLIPPERS.) 

DOCTOR. Now, Mother, you go to bed an' get a 
little sleep. Cap'n can sit up with me, till we call 
you. Is Pettengil over to the house, Ann? 

ANNIE. Yes. I left him there. 

DOCTOR. Weir vou better go home. It's gettin' 
late. 

ANNIE. Can't I help some here? 

DOCTOR. Not tonight. Do as I tell ye, child. 
Go home and keep house with Pettingil. 



24 

NAN (TO ANNIE). Isn't it nice to be a house- 
keeper ? 

ANNIE. Yes, dear. But it's better to have a 
mother. Good night all. 

MOTHER R. Don't you want 'Tlumsy" to go 
with you? It's very dark. 

ANNIE. Oh, no. I'm not afraid. Good night. 
(EXIT OTTT OF DOORS.) 

MOTHER R. She's such a nice girl. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. 

CAP'T. Well, Mother, better go to bed. An' you, 
children, better clear out. 

(NAN GOES TO FAN TO KISS HER. DOCTOR 
STOPS HER GENTLY.) 

DOCTOR. N-n-no. I wouldn't. Ketchin'! 

NAN. Oh! Good night, Fanchon, dear* Sleep 
soundly, 

FAN. (FAINTLY). Good night. 

(NAN GOES FROM THE ROOM TO GO TO BED.) 

MOTHER R. (TO FANCHON). If you want any- 
thing dear, just speak. The Doctor is going to sit u]> 
with vou. Good night. 

CAP'T. (SHAKING CLUMSY WHO IS ASLEEP 
IN THE ROCKER). Here, wake up ! 

"CLI^MSY" (DROWSILY). I want to hear the 
band play. 

CAP'T. "Want to hear the band play!" Well, 
I'll plav a tune on vou, if vou ain't right smart! 

(LEADS HIM OFF.) 

MOTHER R. (STANDING IN DOOR^^'AY). 
Father, have you wound the clock? 

(CAPTAIN RT^SHFORD GOES TO MANTLE 
AND BEGINS TO WIND THE CLOCK. DOCTOR 
HTTNTER SITS BY TABLE IN ROCKING CHAIR 
AND SETTLES HIMSELF TO READ A MEDICAL 
JOI^RNAL. SHADES THE LIGHT FROM FAN- 
CHON'S FACE.) 



25 



SCENE II. 

(APPARTMENTS OF HARRY HUNTER AND 
RICHARD M'CLELLAN, CHICAGO. THE SAME 
TIME AS SCENE I. TYPICAL STUDENTS' 
ROOM. ROUND TABLE IN CENTER AVITH 
CARDS, WINE BOTTLES AND GLASSES. FIRE- 
PLACE AND FIRE L. DOOR L TO BED ROOM. 
STUDY TABLE, BOOKS, ETC.) 

DISCOVERED. HARRY HUNTER, RICHARD 
M'CLELLAN, MR. SMITH AND MR. BROWN PLAY- 
ING POKER AT TABLE IN CENTRE. 

(THE MEN PLAY TWO ROUNDS IN SILENCE, 
M'CLELLAN WINNING. THEN HARRY RISES 
FROM THE TABLE.) 

HARRY HUNTER. That lets me out. I'm 
broke. 

MR. SMITH. Here, Hunter, you be banker for 
the three of us. 

M'CLELLAN. Yes, old man, do that. We've 
just commenced. 

MR. BROWN. Let's settle up and begin with 
chips. 

M'C. AND SMITH. All right. 

(HARRY PRODITCES BAG OF CHIPS FROM 
BROWN'S COAT. THE MEN AT THE TABLE 
COUNT MONEY AND DRINK.) 

HARRY (BORED. STACKS CHIPS BEFORE 
HIM ON TABLE.) How do jou want them? 

M'C. Let's make them twenty-five cents, one and 
five. 

SMITH. Let's make 'em one, five and fifteen. 

BROWN. Damn the small change! Make 'em 
one, five an' twentv-five! 

M'C. All right. 

SMITH. Anyway to suit. 

M'C. There's ninetv-five dollars (HANDS 
MONEY TO HARRY). That's all T have. Give me 
whites and reads. 

BROWN. Here's a hundred! Gimme reds an* 
whites! 



26 

SMITH. Same here! "I'm de man w'at broke 
de bank at Monte Carlo." . 

(HARRY COUNTS OUT CHIPS AND DELIV- 
ERS THEM. THE MEN FLAY THREE ROUNDS, 
THE DEALER WINNING EACH TIME. BROWN 
TO DEAL AND WIN THE THIRD ROUND, TAKING 
ALL CHIPS IN SIGHT.) 

M'C. Gentlemen, I am broke. ^A'ill you ar('ei)t 
my I. O. IT. for a hundred? 

SMITH. Cert, my boy! For five hundred! A 
man of property like you's w'ats studyin' medicine for a 
hobbv, is c^ood for any amount at dis bank. 

(M'CLELLAN WRITES I. O. T^. FOR .^^.500 AND 
PASSES IT TO HARRY.) 

HARRY (IN SURPRISE). Five hundred dollars! 

M'C. (UNCONCERNEDLY). Give me all three, 
please. 

HARRY. Dick, this is gettino- 

SMITH. Aw. gimme all kin'er chips! Here's five 
hundred real monev! (HANDS CURRENCY TO 
HARRY.) 

HARRY. Gentlemen, I must protect! This is — 

]M'C. Never mind, old man. You're not used to 
it. that's all. We may p;et n\) to five thousand before 
morning. 

(SMITH AND BROWN EXCHANGE SIGNIFI- 
CANT GLANCES.) 

SMITH (TO BROWN). De gods are wid us! 

BROWN (TO SMITH). If we is careful, we makes 
monev. Let him win awhile. 

(THEY PLAY THREE ROI^NDS AS THE 
CARDS HAPPEN TO GO. ON THE FOURTH 
ROUND M'CLELLAN WINS E^^ERYTHING ON 
THE TABLE. SMITH AND BROWN THEN I»ASS 
THEIR L O. U.'S AND GET MORE CHIPS. ON 
FIFTH ROITND BROWN WINS MOST ALL ON THE 
TABLE. SMITH DEALS THE SIXTH AND LAS^^ 
ROUND, ON WHICH M'CLELLAN PIH'S I'P ALL 
HE HAS AND, WISHING TO CONTINI^E, STARTS 
TO WRITE AN I. O. IT.) 

HARRY. I have no more chips. They are all in 
play. 

M'C. Gentlemen, will vou accept mv I. (). I^. 0:1 
the table? 



BROWN. Cert, old man. Just have your friend 
witness them on the back. Just to witness, your 
Ivuow. Then Smith will witness mine an' I'll do the 
same for his. 

M'C. Harry will you endorse those I. O. T.'s of 
mine? There is no danger for you. If I lose I can re- 
deem them, 

HARRY (RELUOTANTLY). Oh, just as vou- sav. 
(ENDORSES. M'OLELLAN THEN WRITES AN I. 
O. U. INTENDED TO BE EQI' AL TO ALL CHIPS 
WHICH SMITH AND BR(^WN HAVE IN EXCESS 
OF HIMSELF.) 

M'C. There. I am even with vou. 

(ALL THE CHIPS AND JM'CLELLAN'S 1. O. V. 
ARE NOW IN THE CENTER OF THE TABLE.) 

l^ROW^N. I would like to raise vou. Does mv 
LO. IT. o-o? 

M'C. Certainlv. 

(BROWN ^A^RITES L O. U. SMITH WIT- 
NESSES AND M'CLELLAN READS IT. M'CLEL- 
LAN AND SI^flTH WRITE L O. U.'S FOR LIKE 
AMOUNT. M'CLELLAN THEN WRITES xVN- 
OTHER.) 

M'C. Tliis is mv limit. I'll raise vou this much 
more. (HANDS L O. U. TO HARRY.) ' 

HARRY (IN STTRPRISE AFTER READING I. 
O. U.). Dick! What are you thinkino' of ! 

M'C. (TESTILY). Please endorse it! 

(HARRY COMPLIES. SMITH AND BROWN 
READ THE L O. U. AND DUPLICATE IT.) 

SIMITH. That lets me out. 

BROWN. Oh, verv well, what ver got? 

SMITH. Jacks. (DISPLAYS FOUR JACKS.) 

]\rC. No good. Kings. (DISPLAYS FOUR 
KINGS.) 

BROWN. It's mine! (DISPLAYS FOUR ACES.) 

HARRY. Dick, vou have lost! (RISES FROM 
THE TABLE.) 

M'C' (QUIETLY). Four jacks, four kings, four 
aces. We each held up four cards. 

BROWN (BUSY POCKETING THE SPOILS). 
Well, what of it? 

M'C. A remarkable set of hands, in my opinion! 

SMITH. I wouldn't insinuate, if I was you. It 
ain't gamev! 



28 

M'C. I do not wish to insinuate. I can redeem 
those notes tomorrow. But I repeat. That was a re- 
markable deal! 

BROW^\ Dat's right, ol' man. Dat's game! 
You'll make a sport yet. When de cards run agin yer, 
ver must die game! 

(SMITH AND BROWN PREPARE TO <J0.) 

M'C. Bince tou have taken ever^-thing else, 
hadn't you better' take this? (HOLDS BOTTLE OF 
WINE OUT TO THEM.) 

SMITH. We brought dat here. We might as 
well take it away. (TAKES IT.) 

HARRY. Dick, you're not going to let those fel- 
lows go with all those notes! 

BROWN. Ha-ha-ha! Your friend's real new, 
ain't he! 

HARRY. How much do they amount t-o? 

BROWN. Oh, about five thousvand dollai's. 

HARRY. Five thousand dollars! And I en 
dorsed them! 

BROWN. Don't you worry. We won't bother 
you. Your friend's able to take care ©f them. How 
much time do von want, Mac? 

M'€. Time? 

BROWN. Time's wa't I said. Will yon take 
der I. O. U.'s up ter-morrer? 

M'O. (QUIETLY). You had better do th<' fair 
thing and let me play you for them. 

BROWN. Now see here, ^lae. You know dat 
Smith an' me is ^'gams." We means simply business. 
When we wins, we wants de coin. Do we see yer ter- 
morrer? 

M'O. (SUPPRESSED ANGER). Not to-morrow. 
Nor next dav. When I get good and readv. (OPENS 
DOOR TO HALL AND POINTS OUT.) Good night. 

BROWN. Oh. all right. May be we ain't quite 
your set. But we has de I. O. U.'s. Don't forget dat! 
(EXIT BROWN AND SMITH.) 

HARRY. Dick, this is awful. Five thousand 
dollai-s lost in one evening! 

M'O. Don't worrv. Fll get them back. (PACES 
THE FLOOR.) 

HARRY. Get them back! How can you? 

M'C. Oh, thos(^ two sharks stacked the cards on 



29 

me, as sure as you're a foot liijih. I played with tlieiii 

hust week and last night. I won last week, 

but lost last night. I asked them up liei-e well, 1 

thought YOU could play better than you do. 

HARRY. I i)lay! Why you know that all the 
poker I've played has been liere in tliis room, and in 
the other fellow's rooms. (AFTER A 1»AUSE.) Dick, 
when did vou plav those fellows before tonight. 

M'C. (SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS). At ''211)." 

HARRY. I thought as much. Dick, your i)lay 
ing will cost you your diploma. 

M'C. My playing will cost me the auiounr of those 
notes if I drop it now. 

HARRY. Will you stop, then? 

M'C. Oh, nonsense, man! Don't preach to me. 
The news of your fiancee's illness has upset you. Go 
to bed! ' 

HARRY. Red! There's a quiz tomorrow. 

M'C. Oh, damn the quiz! 

HARRY. It's all very well for you to talk like 
this. You have an income. I am a country doctor's 
son. Five thousand dollars is as much as my father is 
worth. My studies are costing him good money. 1 
have got to graduate and get to work. (TURNS 
AWAY FORM M'CLELLAN.) 

M'C. Oh, you're all right, old man. you're all 

right. I'll get those notes back and then well, 

Ave'll talk about it. Here, help me with this table. 
(THEY MOVE THE TABLE TO R. NEXT TO PAR- 
TITION, LEAVING CENTRE STAGE CLEAR.) Now, 
I'm going for a walk to settle mv tem])er. (GETS HAT 
AND COAT AND GOES TO DOOR.) Cheer up, old 
man. You're not used to this, that's all. Ill get 
them back, and then we'll attend to those diplomas!* 
(EXIT OUT OF DOORS.) 

HARRY (SOLrrS). "Not used to it?" No, in- 
deed! And I hope I never will be! Dick must get 
them back. I couldn't go home next summer and face 
Fanchon with those notes hanging over me. There 
she is, getting readv for a June wedding, and I am do- 
ing ray best to disgrace her. (GOES TO STUDY 
TABLE.) Oh, I can't study. I'm upset. It's the 
news of Fanchon's illness, that's what it is. A smoke 
bv the fire will fix me. And then I'll studv. (TURNS 



OUT GAS AND SMOKES BY THE OPEN FIRE.) 
If she is seriouslj ill tonight, I know just what the,v 
are doing. I can see it all now. Thev have her bed 
out in the big sitting room. There's a fire in tlie grate. 
The Cap'n's there in his shirtsleeves. Mother Rush- 
ford rocks by the fire. And Father — the old counti'v 
doctor — is sitting by his patient, watching every 
breath with the practiced eye of the man of science. 
The old doctor — the trusted of the people! I believe 
that when the Saviour comes on earth again, he will 
do as he did of old; go about healing the sick. 

TABLEAU. 

THE BACK OF THE STT'DENTS' ROOM SEPA 
RATES AND DISCLOSES THE SCENE AT RUSH- 
FORD'S AS HARRY HAS JUST DESCRIBED IT. 
A BIT OF MOVEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED BY 
HAVING NAN ENTER L IN NIGHT DRESS, GO 
ACROSS TO BED AND LOOK INTO HER SISTER'S 
FACE. THEN TABLEAU.) 

CURTAIN. 



31 



DOCTOR HUNTER. 

ACT II. 

(June. "I will lend you the money!") 

SCENE. DOORYARD OF DR. HUNTER'S 
HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE. THE HOUSE IS AT THE 
RIGHT. A TREE WITH A RUSTIC SEAT BE- 
NEATH IT IS AT THE LEFT. AT THE BACK 
THERE IS A FENCE WITH GATEWAY IN THE 
CENTRE. BEYOND THIS (A DROP) IS SEEN THE 
MISSISSIPPI RI\'ER, ONE ]\IILE WIDE, WITH 
THE IOWA SHORE BEYOND. THE WRECK OF 
AN OLD MILL, WITH WATER WHEEL, IS SEEN 
ON THE IOWA SHORE, AND THE HILLS, WHICH 
RISE ABRUPTLY, ARE DOTTED WITH FARM 
HOUSES. IT IS JUST DARK. A RED GLOW IS 
OVER THE WATER FROM THE SETTING SUN. 
AS THE ACT PROGRESSES THE MOON, WHICH 
IS UP OVER THE RIVER, SHINES OUT UPON 
THE VA ATER, AND TINY LIGHTS ARE SEEN IN 
THE FARM HOUSES BEYOND. 

NOTE — It is supposed to be the band meeting 
night and that the band is playing in the hall a 
quarter of a mile from the Doctor's house. Being 
June, the hall windows are up and the music is heard 
by those at the Doctor's house, distantly, yet distinct. 
The tune is caught, but ordinary conversation is not 
drowned. In like manner the arrival and departure 
of the evening train is to be indicated, the depot being 
a quarter of a mile away. 

The band begins each tune by marking time with 
the drums, as is the custom of country bands. 

DISCOVERED: HARRIET JOSSELYN, ANNIE 
HUNTER, AND FANCHON RUSHFORD. HAR 
RIET AND ANNIE UNDER TREE. FANCHON IN 
ROCKER ON PORCH. 



32 

ANNIE. Are you warm enough with that light 
shawl, Fanchon, dear? i^hall I get you something 
heavier ? 

FAN, I am quite comfortable, thank you. 

HARRIET. Harry's train will soon be in, and 
then she will be perfectly happy. 1 remember, my 
dear, when I used to wait for a masculine voice, and 
when it sounded, there was nothing else to be heard. 

ANNIE. Was it my Father's ? 

HARRIET. Yes, dear. 

ANNIE (NEvSTLING CLOSER). That was long 
ago. Before I was born. How wonderful tbat seems! 
Was this world the same kind of a place before I was 
born, as I have known it to be? 

HARRIET. What a queer question for my little 
woman to ask! It was just the same. Men and wom- 
en made mistakes then, just as they do now. 

ANNIE. Was it like that with you? Did yon 
really love my daddy? 

HARRIET. Yes, dear. But the cruel war time, 
with its whirlwind of feelings and events, came in my 
day. It reached my poor little home, and blighted all 
its brightest hopes. Your Father went to the war as a 

young army surgeon. I was his promised wife. 

I should have sent him away with my prayers. In- 
stead, I dismissed him with a broken engagement. He 
returned justly proud of his nation's success, and I 
called him a murderer. I still hold my old belief that 
the cruel war was wicked and could have been avoided ; 
but I have lived to learn that the soldiers of both sides 
were in earnest, and gave their lives for their beliefs, 
as I sacrificed my love to mine. 

ANNIE. But that's ail past now. You will live 
here always, won't you? 

HARRIET. Marry him. do you mean? 

ANNIE. Yes. dear. 

HARRIET (THOUGHTFULLY.) I don't know, 
dear. It seems so verv unusual. 

DOCTOR (WITHIN). Loo! Loo! Oh, Loo! 

FAN. He's not out here, Doctor. 

(ENTER DR. HUNTER FROM THE HOUSE.) 

DOCTOR (TO FANCHON). Hello! Come ove^ 
to supper, did ye? Couldn't even let Harry eat be- 



33 

fore YOU saw him, eh? \^'ell, I'll beat ye vet. I'm 
j>oin' to the train to meet him. I want that kid "St. 
Louis" to go along and fetch his trunk home. Loo! 
Loo! Darn that little nigger! (GOES TO GATE.) 
There he is, plavin' some darn game. Loo! come here! 
(ASIDE.) It's train time, an' I'm as nervous as a 
new doctor with the smallpox! 

(ENTER "ST. LOUIS" AT THE GATE.) 

ST. L. Hyere I is. Doctor. 

DOCTOR. I want you to take the wheelbarrow 
an' go to the depot to fetch Harry's trunk. It's train 
time. Out with you, or I'll cut out your esophagus, an' 
then you can't swallow! 

ST. L. Git Harrv's trunk. All right, all right! 
(EXIT "ST. LOUIS" R. BEHIND HOUSE.) 

(WHISTLE OF LOCOMOTIVE IN DISTANCE.) 

DOCTOR. There she is! Come on! Who's 
goin'? 

HARRIET. I'll remain here with Fanchon. 

DOCTOR. All rig^it. Come on, Annie. Let's 
"go hear tlie band play." Ha-ha-ha-ha ! 
(EXIT DR. HUNTER AND ANNIE, OUT OF GATE 
AND TURN TO L.) 

("ST. LOUIS" COMES FROM BEHIND THE HOUSE 
WITH WHEELBARROW AND HITRRIES 
AFTER THEM.) 

ST. L. Go 'long dere! Giddap! Gidda])! 
Whoop! Gwine hyere de ban' plav! 

HARRIET (SITTING ON STEPS). Are you glad 
Harry is coming dear? 

FAN. How can you ask. 

HARRIET. Of course, I know. Vn\t are you 
strong enough for this excitement? 

(LOCOMOTIVE BELL AS TRAIN NEARS 
STATION. THEN AIR BRAKES RELEASED.) 

FAN. Let me go to the gate. T want to see them 
coming, 

(BOTH GO TO THE GATE AND STAND BY 

FENCE.) 



34 

HARRIET. See there! There's Harry and 
Annie together, a ad the Doctor. And that stranger 
must be Mr. McClellan. 

FAN. Yes, that must be Diek. 

(LOCOMOTIVE BELL AND Pl^FFIXG AS 
TRAIN STARTS.) 

(FANCHON EXIT L. HARRIET BY POST 
ALONE.) 

HARRIET. I wonder if it is right for me to be- 
come one of them. The Doctor seems entirely happv 
with his children. An old maid like me to marry? I 
must be careful to do what seems best when all is 
considered. (GOES TO TREE..) 

(SOUND OF VOICES AS THEY APPROACH. 
ENTER HARRY, ANNIE, AND FANCHON L. AND 
COME IN GATE.) 

HARRY. Hello. Aunt Hattibelle! (KISSEK 
HER.) I haven't seen you since we went blue-berry- 
ing in Maine! 

(ENTER DOCTOR AND M'CLELLAN AND 
COME IN GATE.) 

DOCTOR. Come right in. Mr. McClellan. come 
right in! Miss Josselyn, this is ^Ir. McClellan, Harry's 
roommate. And Miss Rushfoid. Annie, you met Mr. 
McClellan at the train. 

M'C. Yes, thank you. I know all of you from 
your photographs in our room. ^A'e talk of you all so 
much, that I fear I shall be calling first names with all 
sincerity. 

ANNIE, Do so, by all means. We are one familv 
here, and Harry's friends belong to us. 

HARRY. Yes, but never mind about it now. 
We are the two hungriest men in Illinois. 

DOCTOR. My boy, don't leave me out. I didn't 
eat any dinner, just so as to keep you company. I'm 
hungrier than old Jenks was wheii he went to heai* 
the band play. Ha-ha-ha-ha! 

M'C. Jenks? Oh, yes. Harrv has told hk^ the 
storv. 

'ANNIE (TO HARRY). Take Mr. ^IcClellan in, 
and when vou are readv we will be. 



V 



DOCTOR (GOING IN). Rio-ht this way, boys! 

^rC. Ladies, you will excuse us? (GOES IN.) 

HARRY. Fanchon, it's good of you to eome over 
here to supper. Are you strong enough? 

FAN. I am nearly well again. 

HARRY. Well, excuse me for a moment, and I 
will be right dow^n again. (GOES IN.) 

ANNIE. Just see Father! He's gov Harry safe- 
ly home again, and that makes him perfectly hapi)y. 
He will walk on air for days and days. (GOES IN.) 

(ENTER PETTENGIL L. AND OOMES IN 
GATE.) 

PET. Have thev come? 

HARRIET. Yes. They are in the house. 

PET. I jest locked up and come ter supper. 
There was a feller at the office wanted some quinine 
]>ills and some paregoric, and I couldn't get away in 
time to make the train. 

DOCTOR (W^THIN). Supper-r-r-r-r! Gome in, 
all of you! I'm starving! I'm hungrier than 

(HIS VOK^E IS LOST IN THE NOISE OF PLACING 
CHAIRS ABOUT THE TABLE.) 

FAN. Harry has cut yon out. Aunt Hattibellc 
Doetor Hunter has no eyes for you, now. 

DOCTOR (AT DOOR). Oh, excuse me. I forgot 
my manners. (GOES TO HARRIET.) 

HARRY (AT DOOR). Fanchon, come in. Sup- 
I)er is ready. (HARRY AND FANCHON GO IN.) 
DOCTOR. Fine feller, ain't he Hattie, eh? 
HARRIET. Doctor Hunter and son. 
DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Got him home at last. 

- (DOCTOR AND HARRIET GO IN.) 
PET. (LOOKING AFTER THEM). ^Vell, here 
we be. Doc's got his sw^eetheart. an' Harry's got his'n, 
an' Annie's settin' next to that Chicago chap. The 
Grand Army ii«! the only thing that ain't "in it." 

DOCTOR (WITHIN). Come in, Cy. We're wait- 
in' on ye! 

PET. All right. Didn't know but maybe you 
thought I was "goin' to hear the band play." 



36 

(WITHIN DOCTOR LAUGHS AXI) HARKY 
CALLS OUT, "HELLO, UNCLE CY." PETTENGIL 
GOES IN. " SOUND OF VOICES HEARD AS THEY 
SIT AT TABLE.) 

(ENTER "CLUMSY'" L. AND COMES IN GATE. 
HE CARRIES TWO GRIPS. ENTER AFTER HIM 
ST. LOUIS, WHEELING TRITNK ON WHEELBAR- 
ROW. WHEELBARROW COLLIDES WITH GATE 
AND UPSETS TRUNK OUTSIDE FENCE.) 

''CLUMSY"." There vou go, nigoerl I told yon I 
was stronoer'n you. I ouglit to have wheeled that 
trunk ! 

ST. L. Y^es yo' is! Y"o' ain't strong nouf to tote 
dem grips 'thout stoopin' shoulders like old Granny 
Thompson! 

(^LUMSY\ Well, I could'er wheeled that trunk 
inter that gate, and had fun doin' it! 

ST. L. Well, all right, all right. Come yere an' 
do hit! Do hit!! 

CLUMSY^ Huh! Take me for a fool! After 
I've got my grips in, you want me to lift your old trunk! 
Well, "not on your side-wlieeler!" 

ST. L. (LIFTS TRI'NK ON WHEELBARROW 
AND FALLS ON OTHER SIDE WITH IT. I»ICKS 
HIMSELF I^P QUICKLY" AND CALLS OUT): All 
right, all right! 

CLI'MSY". He-he-he-he! Black man! 

ST. L. Y"o' come help me tote dis vere trunk er 
I'll smash yo' mouf ! (ENTERS GATE.) 

CLUMSY. No you won't, nigger! Nigger! 
Nigger!! I'll hit vou so hard vou'll turn white! 
' ST. L. (SQUARING OFF).' All right, all right!! 

CLUMSY. Ah, goon! 
•ST. L. Allright all right!! 

(CLITMSY STRIKES AT HIM AND TIIET 
CLINCH, ROLLING AROUND ON THE STAGE. 
(^LT"]\TSY BEGINS TO CRY" OUT IN PAIN.) 

(ENTER DOCTOR HUNTER FROM THE HOUSE.) 

DOCTOR. Here, you two last year's Christmas 
presents, quit that! Quit! Quit!! 

(THE TWO BOYS GET ON THEIR FEET. BOTH 



37 

ANGRY, BUT "ST. LOUIS" HAYING THE BEST OF 
IT.) 

DOCTOR. What's all this about? 

ST. L. Dat low down Clumsy swiped me, 'cause 
I wouldn't let him tote de trunk! 

CLUMSY. No such thing! Look at what he did 
to the trunk ! 

DOCTOR (HOPPING ROUND IN EXCITE 
MENT). Who tii)ped that trunk over? What tipped 

it over? Great jumpin' Jerusalem, who ! Here 

you, both of you! Catch on to that. quick, or I'll fill 
vou so full of castor oil you'll bust. Lively now! 
(THEY OBEY.) Take it up the front stairs! 

(THE TWO BOYS CARRY THE TRUNK INTO 
THE FRONT DOOR, "JAWING" EACH OTHER AS 
THEY GO.) 

(ENER HARRY FROM HOUSE.) 

DOCTOR. Guess you'll find things all mussed in 
that trunk. Them boys had it upside down out there 
in the road. 

HARRY. Just so thev didn't hurt that di])loma, 
dad! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Got th' diploma at last, 
eh? I'm sorry we couldn't be there to see you get it, 
my boy. It's cost us a lot of good money, and it's cost 
you lots of hard work. But it's worth it all, my son. 
The physician's work is better than the minister's. 
You won't find many rich country doctors, but if you 
do all the good that comes in your way, you'll have a 
sound conscience. Take a country doctor's blessing 
and make yourself worthy of your profession! 

HARRY. That's all' right, dad. I know you've 
given away thousands of dollars' worth of practice, 
and I guess I've got your soft heart. But you've al- 
wavs done handsomelv bv us, and I want to do well b^- 
vou. Now (PI^TS HANDS ON HIS FATHER'S 
SHOULDERS, AND SPEAKS JOKINGLY), how is it? 

DOCTOR. What sayee? 

HARRY. Has Aunt Hattibelle re-considered the 
probation idea? 

DOCTOR. Oh-h-h. (CHUCKLES.) Havin' lots 
of fun with the old Doctor, ain't ye? Just because 
you're Doctor Hunter, too, you're getting funny with 
me. 



38 

HARRY. How do you get on conriing? Is she 
shv? 

DOCTOR. Oh, go on with von! (PULLS 
HARRY'S HAT OVER HIS EARS, WHIRLS HIM 
AROUND AND SHOVES HIM. HARRY LAUGHS.) 

DOCTOR (SLOWLY). She ain't said ves 

yet. 

HARRY. You must fix it so as to be in line with 
Fanclion and Doctor Hunter, Jr. We can vvorlv tlie 
wliolesale rate dodge on tlie Rev. Mr. Harper. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. W^ h o 1 e s a 1 e rates! 
(CHUCKLES.) You'll be wantin' me to go along with 
you for a weddin' trip, next. 

HARRY. Not in a thousand years! I couldn't 
get along with two such old spoons as vou and Aunt 
Hattibelle! 

(ENTER PETTENGIL FROM THE HOUSE.) 

PET. Guess I'll go down to the office. Doc. 

DOCTOR. All right, Cy. 

PET. Will you be down, bimeby? 

DOCTOR, if I'm not, you can 'lock up after the 
mail comes in. 

PET. Be down, Harry? 

HARRY. Guess not. Uncle Cyrus. Too many 
girls here! 

PET. Ha-ha-ha! That's what old Jenks said the 
night he went to hear the band play. Ha-ha-ha ! 

(DOCTOR AND HARRY LAUGH, AS PETTEN- 
GIL EXITS OUT OF GATE AND TO L.) 

(ENTER FROM HOUSE M'CLELLAN, ANNIE. 
FANCHON AND HARRIET.) 

DOCTOR. Mr. McClellan, if you had been an hour 
sooner, you'd have seen one of our best sunsets. It's 
right west over the river there. 

M'C. I shall watch for them every evening. 
There's the moon up there now. She will make the 
river sparkle in another hour. I must admit. I like it 
here. Harry had hard work persuading me to come. 
I confess my gratitude for his persuasion. 

ANNIE. Wait until we have shown you a few 
more of our pretty places, and some of our landmarks. 
Then I am sure you will be pleased with (}uiet little 
Riverside. 



39 

M'C. Have you any more 'iaiid-niarks" as inter- 
esting as old Private Pettengil? 
ANNIE. Oh, several ! 

(ENTER "ST. LOUIS" FROM HOUSE, RUN- 
NING. CLUMSY AFTER HI:M WITH TRUNK 
STRAP. THEY RUN ACROSS STACE, AROUND 
TREE AND OITT OATE. "ST. LOUIS" JUMPS 
O^^ER THE WHEELBARROW AT THE GATE, 
BUT CLUMSY FALLS HEADLONG OVER IT.) 

ST. L. He-he-lie! All right, all right! He-he-he! 

(CLUMSY LIMPS BACK INTO THE HOUSE 
MTTTTERING TO HIMSELF.) 

HARRY. O, Clumsy! Did you "go to hear the 
band plav!" 

("St! LOinS" HAS A FIT OF LAUGHTER.) 

DOCTOR (SHARPLY). Loo, put tliat 'barrow 
where it belongs, right smart, now! 

ST. L. Yes, Doctor. (CHUCKLES TO HIM- 
SELF.) Nigger, nigger! All right, all right!! 
(WHEELS BARROW ACROSS STAGE AND OI^T 
L. M. E.) 

M'C. There are two more quite interesting in- 
stitutions. Who are they? 

ANNIE. The negro boy we call "St. Louis," as 
that is the only name he know's. He fell from a lum- 
ber raft and was given up for a drowned negro. 
Father saved him, and since then the boy has lived 
here as a chore boy. I don't think you could get him 
away from us. The other young gentleman is Harry's 
prospective brother-in-law. 

HARRIET. Annie, dear, let me do the work and 
you remain here with your guest. 

ANNIE. Oh, no, indeed! I will go, too. 

FANCHON (IN FUN). You cannot leave me 
alone with all these men. I shall die of fright. I 
will go, too. 

ANNIE. Mr. McClellan, this is the country, you 
know. You will excuse us? 

M'C. Indeed, let me help . 

HARRY. Come here and smoke! There are 
three of them. They are dying to discuss you. Give 
them an opportunity, can't you! 

FAN. You wretch! Come Annie, quickly! 



40 

(FANCHON, ANNIE AND HARRIET (JO INTO 
HOUSE.) 

(THE THREE MEN STAND AT FENCE. THE 
DOCTOR OUTSIDE.) 

DOCTOR. Fine girls, those, Mr. McClellan. 

(THE BOYS NOTICE THE WORD "(URLS."') 

M'C. Indeed, they are, sir. I think your daughter 
is a genuine country beauty. 

HARRY. You ought to see Fanehon wlien she's 
herself. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Did you notice the 

other one? 

(THE BOYS ENCHANGE GLANCES.) 

M'C. A mighty fine looking woman. 

HARRY. She's the prettiest spinster thaf ever 
came out of New England! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. (A PAX'SR.) You see. 
Mr. McClellan, Harry's marrying will leave Annie and 
me alone. 

M'C. And yon want the "other one" to take 
Harry's place! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Not exactly Harry's place. 
Nothing can fill the place of a man's only son, especirii- 
Iv when he follows his father's trade. But — you se(^ — 

HARRY. He knows all about it, dad. ' I've tolC 
him. 

(BAND BOYS ARE HEARD "TUNING TH*.") 

HARRY. Hello, it's band night! Another vil- 
lage jov, Dick. 

M'C. Is that Mr. Riley's "old band?" 

HARRY. It's the same kind. There are fellows 
in it who went to school with me when the coal mines 
were running full crews here in Riverside. 

DOCTOR. You'll have to tell Mr. McClellan 
that story about old Jenks goin' to hear the band play. 

M'C. He has told me, several times. 

DOCTOR. Good storv, ain't it? Ha-ha-ha! 

(M'CLELLAND AND HARRY LAUGH.) 

(BAND STRIKES UP "LITTLE FISHER 
MAIDEN." THE THREE LISTEN A MINUTE.) 

M'C. Not quite up to Theodore Thomas, is it? 
DOCTOR. It's one of the institutions of the town. 



41 

^ye have to make our fuu. IJaiid night for the boys 
and girls and prayer meetin' for the old folks. 

(THEY LISTEN AGAIX.) 

HARRY. 'I'll bet that's old Fernian behind that 
sax-liorn. When did he get back? 

DOCTOR. About six weeks ago. He didn't like 
it down the river. 

(THEY LISTEN TILL THE BAND FINISHES. 
BAND PLAYS ALL TUNES VERY SHORT,) 

M'C. This is the first time I ever saw the Missis- 
sippi, except from a car window. 

HARRY. It's just a mile wide here. That's an 
island over where those bushes are. There's a jim- 
dandy swimming hole over behind that island I 

ire. Is that a mill, otf up stream? 

HARRY. Yes, but the old wheel is broken. It 
never turns any more. 

M'C. What! A real ruin right here in America? 

DOCTOR. The old river gets to be a friend to a 
man. I like to sit and look at it. It will always be 
right there, too. The sun will always go down over 
those hills, and the moon seems the haupiest when it 
can shine on the water. Stick to your pavements, 
Mr. McClellan, your clubs and your late hours. Harry 
and I will star bv the old river road. 

M'C. (SIGHS). "Almost thou persuadest me." 

DOCTOR. It would pay you, really. Oo back to 
Chicago. Spend your income. Clubs, theaters and 
bachelor quarters. When you're fifty — what? When 
Harry is fifty he can duplicate this night for you any 
month during the summer, and he will be^I hope — 
a good, old, country doctor. Well, will you come down 
to the office, or stay here with the girls? 

HARRY. Girls. 

DOCTOR, N-n-n-yes. I thought so. (EXIT L.) 

M'C. Now, I'm goine: inside and help wash dishes. 
(GOES TO DOOR.) Ladies, may I come in? 

(VOICES WITHIN.) Certainly. Come in! 

HARRY. (SOLUS.) I can't forget that misera- 
ble five thousand dollars. I wish I could drown it in 
the river out there. It is a sw^ord over my head. I 
don't know what father would do, if he knew about it. 
These possible consequences worry me. They seem 
like horrid realities here in this quiet old home. 



42 

(ENTER FANCHON FROM HOUSE.) 

FAN. Harry! 

HARRY (GOING TO HER). Fanchou ! 

FAN. Mr.McClellaii is helping Aunie vvitli iiu^ 
dishes. I think she is a bit — taken with him. 

HARRY. I hope not. I 

FAN. Why, Harry: Mr. Mcnelhin! Your fel- 
kiw student? 

HARRY. Fanchon, sit here and tell me how toiy 
have been. (THEY SIT BY TREE.) Nan told 'me 
big white lies when you were so ill. 

FAN. It was better so. There was no need foi- 
you to worry. Doctor Hunter was not worried. 

HARRY. I am Doctor Hunter now, too. 

FAN. And I am soon to be Mrs. Dr. Hunter. 
Oh, Harry, Father and Mother have b'een so good to 
me! I have such pretty things all made for our little 
home. Doctor Hunter says that by fall I vrill be en 
tirely well again, and then — I hope — Aunt Hattibelle 
— will be readv. also — for — a w^eddina'. 

HARRY (ABSENTLY). I hope so, too. 

FAN. Harry! (GENTLY.) ^Vhen you were 
home Chistmas you wanted a June wedding. Hnve 
you forgotten it this quickly. 

HARRY. No, no. I w^as thinking of — of Father. 

FAN. Don't w^orry about him. Annie has almost 
persuaded Aunt Hattibelle to promise. Your Father 
will be as happv as ourselves. 

HARRY (ASIDE). Oh. this torlure! I cannot 
marry this sweet bit of womanhood! Those endorse- 
ments are a mountain betw^een us! 

(BAND STRIKES TV "WONT YOU GOME OTT 
AND PLAY.") 

HARRY. Fanchon. I want to tell you somethiu<'-. 
(ASIDE.) Oh, I can't tell her so soon! 

FAN. What is it, Harrv. 

HARRY (SLOWLY). I am afraid that I was 
selfish wdien I wanted you to marry me so very soon. 
Don't you think we had better wait — say — a vear. 
Enough to allow me to get on my feet, and ]>e able to 
care for you as I would like to do? 

(PETTENGIL ENTERS L. AND STANDS LEAN 
ING OYER FENOE.) 



43 

FAN. (SENSITIVELY). Ilarrv Hunter! And 
what am I to do all this year. I want to be a. jnii ) of 
your life from the yery first. Yon will need me mos< 
this first year, and I — I — oh, Harrv, wliat makes yon 
talk like this? (TEARS.). 

PET. There's only one thin;.^ to do with a ji'irl 
like that, Harry Hunter. And tliat is — marry her! 

HARRY (ASIDE). My God, I wish I could! 

(ENTER CAP'T AND MRS. RTTSHFORD AND 
NAN LEFT AND OOME IN GATE.) 

CATT. How 'are* ye, Harry, my boy! We're 
a little late in j^ettinjTj oyer, but Mother was busy. 

HARRY. You came just in time. How are you. 
Mother? 

(CAPTAIN STARES AFTER HIM.) 

MOTHER R. (KISSES HARRY). My boy, I'm 
glad to see you safely home. 

HARRY. Hello, Nan! (HARRY AND NAN GO 
TO THE GATE.) 

MOTHER R. Fanny, you don't look well. Hadn't 
you better go home with me? 

FAN. No, no. I'm just a liitle tired, that's all. 
Just tired. (CRIES ON MOTHER'S SHOULDER.) 

MOTHER R. Why, Failny! 

NAN. See, Mother, Harry's got to be a regular 
dude. Yellow shoes, creases in his pants, and I'll bet 
he wears cuffs eyery day! Ha ye you got your hair 
parted in the middle? (TAKES OFF HIS HAT.) 

MOTHER R. Nan, you must remember, IIarr\ 
is Doctor Hunter, now. 

NAN. Oh, my! That's so, ain't it, Harry? 
(HODLING HIS HANDS AND PTTLLiN(4 P,ACK 
FRO^M HIM.) 

HARRY. That's so, I guess. Harry Hunter. 
M. D. 

NAN. M. D.? Mustard Doser? No, I guess 
in your case it means Much Dude' (LAUGHS.) 

(ENTER CLUMSY L.) 

CLUMSY. Pa, I can't find the cow. 

CAP'T. Ain't she in the pasture? 

CLITMSY. She ain't near the bars. I was there. 



44 

CAP'T. Well, you'll have to go \i\) iu the back 
pasture an' look for her. 

CLUMSY. Oh, doggone! That's just my luck! 
I wanted to go heai' the band plav. (EXIT L. 
GRUMBLING.) 

(ENTER HARRIET, ANNIE AND M'CLELLAN 
FROM HOUSE.) 

HARRY. Cap'n Rushford, my friend, Mr. Mc- 
Clellan. And Mrs. Rushford. And Nan; the oulv 
Nan ! 

CAP'T. This is Dick, eh? Proud to see you in 
Riverside, sir. 

M'C. More familiar faces. T know you already, 
better than you think. 

(BAND PLAYS "AMERICAN CAVALRY.") 

HARRY. Come on! Let's walk down to tlie 
band hall. And then we'll go down on the shore. 

(HARRY TAKES FANCHON'S ARM AND 
GOES OUT GATE.) 

(ENTER DOCTOR HUNTER WITH "ST. LOUIS,^^ 
LEFT.) 

DOCTOR. Hello! Where goin? 

FANCHON, Going to hear the band play. 

(HARRY AND FANCHON EXIT R.) 

(M'CLELLAN ESCORTS ANNIE ATTENTIVE 
LY OUT GATE AND THEY EXIT R.) 

DOCTOR. Blamed if they don't make a slick- 
looking couple! 

MOTHER R. Someone will be wanting Annie 
before many years. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-Tes. 

MOTHER R. (AFTER LOOKING AT RETREAT 
ING FUTURES A MOMENT.) ISIost as nice a couple 
as Harrv and Fanchon. 

ST." L. (GOING TO CAP'T). Massa RusliAs'd, 
whar's Clumsy? 

CAP'T. Huntin' the cow. 

ST. L. (LAUGHING). I'se dun put de cow in de 
shed 'n milked 'er! 

CAP'T. Why, Clumsy's gon(^ way up in the 1/ack 
j)asture to hunt for her! 



45 

8T. L. (LAUGrHING). I done got even, sni-e uulT. 
He kayn't get back time to go hear de baud play! 
(EXIT R. LAUGHING.) 

CAP'T. Ha-ha-ha! Damn that nigger! He's a 
cute one! 

(DOCTOR HUNTER INDICATES TO MOTHER 
RUSHFORD TO TAKE THE CAPT AND FOLLOW 
THE YOUNG FOLKS, AND TO PETTENGIL TO 
CLEAR OUT. EXIT PETTENGIL R.) 

MOTHER R. I AFTER NUDGING THE DOCTOR) 
Cap'n Riishford, if you can't ask your ov.n wife to go 
hear tlie band plav, she can go alone! 

CAP'T. (CHUCKLES). Whoop-e! I'm sent for! 
Excuse me. Miss Harriet. All right. Mother. I'm 
with ye! 

(EXIT CAP'N AND MOTHER RITRHFORD OUT 
GATE AND R.) 

(DOCTOR BY FENCE AND HARRIET PY 
TREE.) 

DOCTOR. Hattie. which had ye rather do. Go 
hear the band play, with the rest of 'em, or finish our 
— debate ? 

HARRIET. T can hear the band play— from 
here. 

DOCTOR (CHUCKLES). Shucks! T ain't half 
so smart as I might be. (GOES TO HER.) What 
were we talking about — when we stopped, — Hattie? 

(ORCHESTRA.) 

HARRIET. You were telling me about — your 
wife. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. (SITS BESIDE HER.) 
Hattie, I loved her, I must admit that. 

HARRIET. "Admit?" That's not the word. If 
she were living I would be proud to be her friend. 
You have asked me to take her place. That is an 
honor in itself. 

DOCTOR (TENDERLY). Then whv don't vou sav 
ves, Hattie? 

HARRIET (QUIETLY). Because— it. hardly 
seems right. I have the same love for you whicli the 
girl of years ago felt in her heart. But it seems odd 
to have vou come to me now. . 



46 

D(JCTOE. Hattie, I'm afraid voii have never 
quite forgiven me for that night, long, long ago, when i 
told you I was proud of the Northern soldier. You 
called me cruel, wicked, murderer, and sent nie awav. 

HARRIET. Oh, don't speak of that old folly! It 
was the mistake of my life. I was filled with my 
girlish ideas of a horror of war. I felt myself, Harriet 
Josselyn, to be above any such worldly struggle. My 
woman's heart has paid the cost of my girlish enthusi- 
asm. 

DOCTOR. Hattie, that's all passed. There was 
a time when it was just you and 1. Then I — marled — 
the other one. Then I heard children's voices in my 
home. Now — she has gone — and they are going. It 
comes back to you and me again. I haven't much to 
offer you, Hattie. Only the home of a country doctor. 
Rut I want you to finish your life out here, by the 
great river, with me. 

HARRIET. But it IS my home! It always har- 
been. In my heart I have always been your wife. 

(BAND STRIKES VV "CALL ME THINE OWN," 
AND PLAYS IT AS CORNET SOLO.) 

DOCTOR. Then we'll have a double weddiu'! 

HARRIET. I don't know. AYe must leave that 
for a while. Something will happen to sliow us whal 
to do. (dOES TO OATE AND LOOKS OFT AT THE 
RIVER.) 

DOCTOR. "Something will hapi)en." Things 
happen mighty slow in Riverside. 

HARRIET. Perhaps. See, this grand old river 
flows slowly. After many turnings it finds the sea. 
If you and I are to marry something will reveal it to us. 

(DOCTOR STANDS BY TREE WAT(^HING 
HER, AS SHE STANDS BY THE GATE IN THE 
^MOONLIGHT.) 

(ENTER JUDGE CROSS RIGHT.) 

CROSS. Evenin', Doc. 

DOCTOR (SI^RPRISED). Evenin', Jedge. 
CROSS. Want to see ve for a minute. Doc. 
DOCTOR. Folks sick? 

CR(^SS. No. On business. An' I guess, 'foi-e 
.I'm through, you'll want to talk to me alone. 



4-7 

(GLANCES AT HARRIET, ^YHO TAKES THE 
HINT.) 

HARRIET. I will find the voimg people. 

DOCTOR. Walk slow. I'll catch you. 

(HARRIET EXITS OUT GATE AND R.) 

(CROSS COMES IN GATE AND DOWN FRONT. 
DOCTOR CENTRE.) 

DOCTOR. Jedge Ci-oss, you ain't come to me for 
five year. I can't imagin' what von want. 

CROSS. Advice, Doc. 

DOCTOR. Medical advice? You said, that time, 
you'd die, an' see all your folks buried, 'fore you'd call 
\ine in. 

CROSS. No, not medical advice. Personal ad- 
vice. I've got a case in hand for a client. It's a — 
peculiar case. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. A case? Want me fer an 
expert witness? 

CROSS. You see, it's like this. There's a young 
nmn got himself into a gamblin' scrape. He has lost 
money at cards and given his notes as payment of the 
obligation. The holders of the notes agreed to give 
him three months to pav. He ain't done it. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. What of it? 

CROSS. Why— they want him to! 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. Well, do yon want me to 
give 'em poison? (CHUCKLES.) 

CROSS. I want your advice. Now, this young 
man can't pay. I know that, myself. His father 
can't. He ain't got friends that can. For that reason 
if I sue it'll have to come out that he's a gambler. It's 
tough — on the old man. 

DOCTOR (WARMING). N-n-n-yes. That's the 
way, every time! It don't make any difference what 
you say, it's the innocent ones that suffer. If I had a 
son that would gamble like that, I would 

CROSS (INTERRTTPTING). What, Doc? 

DOCTOR (SUSPECTING THE TRUTH AND 
EY^EING CROSS). Stand by him to the last ditch! 
Look here, Cross. Who is this boy? 

(ENTER HARRIET; SEES ROW. EXITS TO 
GET HARRY".) 

CROSS. Doc Hunter, vou beat me in that law suit, 



48 

most a dozen years ago. I've been lay in' fer you evei- 
since. It's my turn now. There's some fellers in 
Chicago holds notes with Harry Hunter's name on the 
back. The feller that made 'em can't pay. They were 
given at the end of a card game. I want you to pay 
those notes! 

DOCTOR. Harry! A gambler! 

OROSvS. That's what it looks .like. Doc. 

(ENTER HARRY, FANCHON AND HARRIET, 
RIGHT.) 

DOCTOR (ANGRY). Cross, you take that back, 
or I'll break vour uglv old face! 

HARRY (COMING IN GATE). What's the row. 
Father? 

(ENTER M'CLELLAN AND ANNIE.) 

DOCTOR. Harry, this man sneaks in here after 
dark and say's you're a gamblei'! 

CROSS. I said your name was on the l)ack of 
gambling notes, Harrv. 

HARRY. What if it is? 

CROSS. They want their UKmey. that's wliat! 

HARRY. Biit thev promised— (ASIDE) Oh, 
fool ! 

DOCTOR (GREATLY AGITATED). Harry! 
My boy! ^Ty only son! Have you brought this dis- 
grace upon those who love you most! 

HARRY. Father, listen! 

DOCTOR. Don't explain! If you can't deny, 
spare us 

HARRY. Listen! As you love nie, listen! 
Those notes were given by a friend of mine to cover 
a gambling debt. He asked me to endorse them as a 
favor to him. He has a fortune and an income. He is 
abundantly able to pay them. 

CROSS. Rut he keeps on gainbling his money 
awav. 

DOCTOR. Oh, he does, does he? Tlien it's true 
that Harry didn't make the notes! Ha-ha-ha! Harry, 
my boy, I don't care now! Cross, go on about your 
business! 

CROSS. I'll sue ye! . 

DOCTOR. You can't collect a gambling debt! 



4-9 

CROSS; But I can put Hairy ou the stand 
and make him tell all about it I Tlie folks around 
iiere won't see the difference. Thev will think he's a 
gambler! 'Harrj^ Hunter, M. D., the young Doctor 
Hunter, a gambler! That would mean no trade here! 

HARRY. That's right! My Ood, I knew thih 
would come! 

DOCTOR (CHOKIN(t WITH EMOTION). How 
long do thev give us to pav? 

CROSS. I'll give ye till a week from to-da v ! 

DOCTOR. How much is it? A hundred dollars? 

CROSS. Five thousand dollars! 

DOCTOR (ALMOST SI»EECHLEt«'S). Five- 
thousand — dollars! That will take everything I own 
in this world! 

HARRY. Father, you're not going to attempt to 
pav that! 

DOCTOR (WILDLY). I'll pay 'em all. I'll mort- 
gage everything! I'll see you a week from today with 
every dollar of it! 

(BAND PLAYS CHORUS OF "YOU CAWT 
PLAY IN MY YARD," AND REPEAT TILL CUR 
TAIN.) 

M'C Harry, don't worry, old man. I'll go back 
tomorrow and see them. There's something gon(^ 
wrong. 

CROSS (TO M'CLELLAN). What do you know 
about this business? 

M'C. I evervthing! I am 

HARRY" (INTERRITPTING). Ht^ knows the par 
ties concerned. Dick, don't open your head again! 
You'll make a bad matter worse! Father, I am sure 
I can arrange this in Chicago 

DOCTOR. Arrange it? My son arrange a 
gambling debt! I'll pay 'em if T go begging with 
Annie in the streets! I believe ye, Harry, my son. 1 
don't think you're to blame for this. But the blood- 
sucker has found liis chance and we can't shake him off. 
Jedge Cross, I'll pay ye, but git out of my yard! Don't 
stay here! It ain't safe! You better clear out an' go 
hear the band play! 

(CROSS OOFS OUT GATE AND ST.VNDS IN 
THE ROAD.) 



50 

CROSS. One week! Five thousand dollars! 
That was an expensive lawsuit, Doc! I ain't forgot 
it, just yet! 

HARRIET (QUIETLY). Doctor Hunter, you 
must not mortgage this home. It is Annie's as much 
as it is your own. 

DOCTOR (QUIETLY). Annie's? Yes, so it is. 
But I must clear Harry. His future, and mine, depend 
on it. I can take care of Annie. 

HARRIET. But I want to live here. Isn't there 
some other wav? 

DOCTOR. * Not that I know of. This property is 
all I have. I can't borrow five thousand dollars with- 
out securitv. 

HARRIET. I think vou can. 

DOCTOR. Oh, Harriet! You are very kind. 
But vou don't know how much five thousand dollars 
means to a countrv doctor! (TURNS FROM HER.) 

HARRIET. Yes, I do. I have lived very quietly 
down in Maine. But interest accures there, as it does 
everv where. I have taken good care of mv modest 
little estate. (QUIETLY^ GOING OVER ■t(^ HI:M 
AND TAKING HIS HAND.) Doctor, I told you— 
something would happen. What is mine is yours. 1 
will lend it to vou. 

doctor'. You! Harriet.!) EMBRACES HER.) 

(FANCHON AND ANNIE EMBRACE. CROSS 
STARES OVER THE FENCE IN WONDER. 
M'CLELLAN STARTS FORWARD TO MAKE A 
CLEAN BREAST OF IT, BI'T HARRY PREVENTS 
HIM.) 

CURTAIN. 



DOCTOR HUNTER. 

ACT III. 

(July. "Coin' to Hear the Band Play!") 

SCENE. INTERIOR OF GAMBLING SALOON, 
CHICAGO. REFERRED TO AS "219." DOORS R. 
U. E. AND L. U. E. ROTTLETTE TABLE IN OBERA- 
TION AT L. M. FARO AT R. M. TABLE IN CEN- 
TRE AND TO FRONT, ON WHICH POKER IS 
PLAYED DURING ACT. OTHER GAMBLING SA 
LOON FURNITURE. DOOR AT R. U. E. IS GUARD 
ED BY SCADS. 

DISCOVERED. M'CLELLAN AND SCADS IN 
CENTRE. GAMBLERS ABOUT TABLES IN ROOM, 
SAVE AT CENTRE TABLE, WHICH IS EMl'TY. 

M'C. Now you understand me, do you? These 
two men. Smith and Brown, are not to be admitted 
until you inform me that they are at the door. 

SCADS. Sure, sah. I'll do right smart. Now, 
see if I ain't right, sah. Dere's three gemmen besides 
dese two, what's gwine come here an' ask for you. I'se 
to let dem in right a war? 

M'C. Yes, unless I tell vou differently. (GIVES 
SCADS A DOLLAR.) That's all. Only be careful, 
and if all goes well, I'll giye yau a V bye-and-bye. 
(SITS AT SIDE OF TABLE CENTRE.) 

SCADS (ASIDE.) A V tip comin'. Does I make 
a break under dese circumstances? Not on your in- 
come taxes! (GOES TO HIS POST AT THE DOOR.) 

ROI^LETTE ^^'HEEL. Seyen on the red! 

M'C. (SOLUS). Fiye thousand dollars is easily 
turned in this house. It meant everything to them. 
The old Doctor is a brick, and the old maid is a brown- 
stone front! If I didn't win back those notes after 
what I saw, I'd be fit to grace a dungeon! Only two 
weeks. My, but it seems a year since that beautiful 
eyening on the Mississippi! Dick McClellan, you're 



52 

accustomed to admiration, but you never saw honest 
love looking at you before. She heard me tel! H:irrv 
that I'd come back here and fix certain things, and 
she thought it so good of me! If she had known that 

Harry did it for me Oh, whnt do I care. It was a 

pretty face, that's all. 

SCADS (AT DOOR). Who's dal? Wliat? Yes, 
sah. Come in, sah. (OPENS DOOR.) 

(ENTER HARRY AT SCAD'S DOOR, R. I . E.) 

ROULETTE WHEEL. Double ouglit in the black. 
Nobody on it! 

HARRY (GOING TO M'CLELLAN). Dick .how 
is everything? 

M'C. How are you, Harry? (SHAKES HANDS) 
Everything is in line. Don't get nervous, my boy. AVe 
want cool heads. Where is the Doctor? 

HARRY. I left him with Pettengil, in the club 
room looking at the pictures. 

M'C. The pictures? Quite a novelty for the Doc- 
tor and the Grand Army of the Republic, eh? 

HARRY. Yes, biit I left them pur])oseh. I 
want to talk to you alone. Tell me, how long have 
these fellows agreed to wait? 

M'C. What of that? We can't fail to win to- 
night. It's going to be simple, every day robbery, 
that's all ! 

ROT^LETTE WHEEL. The big red! Who's 
the lucky man? 

HARRY. How did you c^et them to agi'ee to i)lay ? 

M'C. That's a different story. I promised to 
transfer to them certain properties in one month. 
They agreed to wait, and called back those notes. 

HARRY. They did? Cross is ]tretending thai 
he has them in his old safe! 

WC. They have the notes in their possession and 
will produce them here tonight. Have you taught 
the Doctor the rudiments of poker? 

HARRY. Rudiments! Well, rather! He has 
"done" me at "Pennv x\nte" since the first lesson! 

M'C. Ha-ha-ha! Good for the Doctor. I told 
these fellows that I had a guy from the country on the 
string. No offense to the Doctor, you know. I told 
them that he had several thousand dollars about him 



53 

and that Jones would furnish nie money to sit in. 1 
negk^-ted to say that Jones woukl furnish the Doetoi- 
— or rather "the guy" — money also. They haven't 
much cash, and will spring those notes on me during 
the play. See? 

HARRY. Yes. l>ut how did you persuade Jones 
to furnish the money? 

M'C. He's under an old obligation to me. 

HARRY. He must be sure of winning. 

M'C. Sure? Does the highwayman feel sure of his 
victim when he has him looking down a gun bariel? 
Jones knows the deck as well as you know your 
^Materia Medica, This is his own table, and he will 
deal the decisive hand. It's a lead pipe cinch! 

HARRY, If it were not for winning back those 
notes I never could have persuaded the Doctor to go 
into this. He considers winning simply stealing. But 
he looks at this as a legitimate bit of private detective 
work. 

M'C. Did the (Ji'and Ai'mv come armed? 

HARRY. Yes, and so did I. (PATS PISTOL 
POCKET.) 

M'C. Well, vou two are to stav in the bar room, 
there. (POINTS 'l. IT. E.) When I say loudly, "I ac- 
knowledge those signatures," vou send the old siJdier 
to open that door (POINTS' TO SCADS' DOOR). 
Scads will open it for you. You cover the Doctor's 
retreat, and Jones and I will remain to ex])lain mat- 
ters to the two gentlemen, who will be both sur])rised 
and interested. • 

HARRY. All right. We'll do our part. Put 
Dick, old man, there's something else I want to talk 
over with vou. I have a sort of confession to make. 
(CAUTIOUSLY.) My sister, Annie, is in love. 

M'C. (SHOWS HIS PLEASURE BI^T SPEAKS 
GITARDEDLY.) Indeed! She is rather young to be 
seriously — interested. 

HARRY. That is the real trouble. She is so 
young that she is idealizing her hero. 

WC Idealizing? 

HARRY. Yes. She thinks he is her brother's 
fellow-student. She thinks he lost his diploma through 
other causes — than cards. She does not know that he 
is a 



54 

M'C. Harry! 

HARRY. Listen, Dick. You and I have been 
good friends, but I come to you now as a brother 
pk^ading the cause of his sister. Annie is deeply in 
love with you. You are getting deeper and deeper in 
love with cards. Now, Dick, I am done with gaming. 

I vvant you to have done with it or. I want you to 

let Annie know the truth. 

M'C. (QUIETLY.) What good would that do? 

HARRY. It would shatter her idol. Dr. Hun 
ter's daughter would ne^er marry a self-confessed 
gambler. 

^rC. And you expect me to do that? You never 
could be a gambler. 

H.VRRY. I want you to choose between my 
sister and the cards. I ask it for her sake. 

M'C. Harry Hunter, your genuine gambler con- 
siders himself always a gentleman. He is the best 
dressed man, the smoothest man, the ])roudest man in 
the comjiany. He wants to be the best of fellows. 
The only thing he will not do is to admit that he is a 
gambler. 

HARRY. Have you gone that far? Have you 
given u]> the pleasures and o])Dortunities of our choser; 
profession? Is the card table better than the study? 

INI'C. Chosen ])rofession? Perha])s this is my 
chosen profession. 

HARRY. Then why not acknowledge it? 

M'(\ This is a queer interview! 
, HARRY. It is an important interview! If you 
car-e anything for her, do this one thing, and be a man 
about it! 

^rC. Care for her? (QI^TETLY.) I don't know 
that I ever 

HARRY (INTERRI 'rTING). Dick, either you or 
I must tell her the truth. If you loved her you 
would do this. It is evident that you do not. 
You, who have known the belles of society, the wits of 
the town, you do not care for the little wild rose of 
the country. Either you tell her, or I will bring her 
to Chicago and show her! 

WC. Oh, don't do that! I will do what you ask. 
Your sweet little woman has come the nearest of all 
of them to touching mv heart. You are right, I have 



55 

gone too far with the cards. All our plans for the 
profession are at an end for me. I have but one mis- 
tress; and some men call her Tiger. 1 do care — 
honestly for — your sister. If I didn't — there's no 
power I know of could make me tell her that I am — 
a gambler. 

(THEY CLASP HANDS.) 

HARRY. Dick, old man. is it worth the cost? 1 
never saw anything in the game that could hold me 
like this. 

M'C. (WITH A SIGH). I know what I am doing. 
Don't talk any more. I will let her know; at least 
enough of the truth to cure. Only let me do it in my 
own way. I will forfeit a woman's love to listen to the 
purr of the tiger! 

SCADS (AT HIS DOOR). Wb.at's dat! Who 
said so? All right. (GOES TO M'CLELLAN.) De 
two gentlemtn down in the club room sent up to know 
if dev was forgitted? 

M'C. Send for them. 

(SCADS EXIT R. II. E.) 

M'C. Does Doctor Hunter know? 

HARRY. No. 

M'C. Don't tell him— ever! ' 

(ENTER SCADS, DOCTOR AND PETTENGIL 
R. IT. E.) 

DOCTOR (AFTER LOOKING INTERESTED 
LY ABOUT HIM). Lively place, ain't it, Cv? 

PET. Pretty swift. Doc. 

DOCTOR. Harry, did ye see them pictures down 
stairs? (CHI^CKLES.) They're worse than a dis- 
secting room full of bran new stiffs! 

M'C. Those are choice selections of t1ie finest 
French studies from the nude. 

DOCTOR. French? N-n-n-yes. My boy, legs are 
the same shape in all languages. Ha-ha-ha! Anyhow, 
they're a fine lookin' lot o' w^omen. Pettengil called 
'em "undress parades." 

PET. That's right. (EYES SCADS WHO HAS 
BEEN EYEING HT^NI.) See anything ve w^ant? 

SCADS. I w^ants somethin' I don't see. (HOLDS 
HAND FOR TIP.) 

PET. Are voa another one er them Pullman 
fellers? 



56 

SCADS. Nit. iMy name is Scads, an' dat's wliat 
I want. 

PET. A tip? 

SCADS. Uh-huh! 
PET. Well, I'll give ye a "tip"! Over tliiity yeai- 
ago t stood up to be shot at by the feller that owned 
your pa and ma. You wan't born yet. He didn't hit 
as many of me as I did of him. So he had to set yer 
pa and ma free. If a lot of us fellers HADN'T a-stood 
up to be shot at you'd a-bin wearin' a collar 'stead of 
that livery. I ti]>ped you all I'm goin' to — 'fore you 
was born! 

SCADS (IN PUZZLED WONDER— THEN SIN- 
CERELY). Golly! Was you a Yankee soldier? I 
guess you'se right, boss. You don't owe me nothin'. 
It's me 'at owes vou. I 'pologize, sah. Honest, I do, 
sah! Have a cigar, sah! (GIVES PETTENGIL A 
CIGAR AND RETIRES TO HIS DOOR.) 

(ALL LAUGH AT PETTENGIL, WHO STANDS 
HOLDING CIGAR AWKWARDLY.) 

PET. (QUIETLY). It's a good way, to have (he 
])ipe of peace follow the smoke of battle. 

M'C. Doctor, before I tell you our plan, I want to 
ask a favor. When you get home to Riverside, don't 
tell vour women folks what vou see and hear to-night. 

DOCTOR. I guess you're right, Mr. McClellan. 
Harry and I can fix up a story for them. 

M'C. How about tlie old soldier? 

DOCTOR. Pettengil ? I'd trust him 'fore I would 
Harrv or mvself. Yon see. he ain't in love. 

M'C. Ha-ha-hn! .Ml right. Doctor. 

(ENTER JONES L. V. E.) 

M'C. Ah. Mr. Jones, this is Doctor Hunter. Doc 
tor, this is Mi'. Jones, the proprietor. 

JONES. Doctor. I have every respect foi' a man 
of science. 

DOCTOR. Thank you, sir. These bovs say yon 
are a man of science, yourself. (CHUCKLES.) 

M'C. Ml-. Jones, allow me. Doctor Hunter. Jr., 
and Can't Pettenjril. 

PET. Private Pettencil. if vou please. 

JONES. Private Pettencil, be careful, to-niffht. 
A show of arms at the most T\ill do our work. Do not 



57 

take any of us for rebs and pick us off as you did the 
grey coats of '61. 

PET. No danger. I won't disgrace their honest 
grey coats by auA' sucli mistake. 

UOCTOR. Mr. Jones, I never set foot in a gambling 
house before. I don't want to again, unless in my ])ro- 
fessional capacity. IJut, sir, as you are doing me ana 
mine a favor to-night, I come here openly, and 1 want 
to thank vou, now, while I have a chance. 

JONES (QITIETLY). Doctor, you are bearding 
the lion in his den. You know the old saying: "It 
takes all sorts of men to make a woi'ld." 1 suspect 
you are a bit surprised to find us sporting peo}»le 
human. Well, even we can enjoy a breath from the 
countrv. 

DOCTOR. That means me. Ha-ha-ha! 

JONES. You're all right. Doctor. But when we 
play to-night, we must call you Dr. Green. And be 
careful to act as though vou had never seen Mcflellan 
before. (JONES AND DOCTOR GO TO ROTTLETTE 
TABLE AND WATOH GAME.) 

SCADS. What's dat! Well, wait a minute! 
(GOES TO M'CLELLAN.) De other two gemmen is at 
de door, sah. 

M'C. Well, wait a minute. Harry, you and the 
old soldier "duck." Remember the signal. 

HARRY. Y^es. "I acknowledge the signatures." 

M'C. Cap't Pettengil, remember. No shooting. 

PET. (QUIETLY).' Sir, if you were a broken- 
down veteran you would not say that. I know what 
shootin' means. I helped to break a nation's back, an' 
I have lived to know the funeral expenses. 

(EXIT HARRY AND PETTENGIL L. U. E.) 

M'C. Let them in, Scads. 

SCADS (GOES TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT). 
Come in, sah. 

(ENTER SMITH AND BROWN AT SCADS- 
DOOR.) 

SMITH (TO M'CLELLAN). On deck. I see. 
Where's the victim? 

M'C. Sh-h-h-. Not far off. How are vou? 
(ACTS VERY FRIENDLY.) 



58 

SMITH. Ready to tackle anvthiiij^' — froiu the 
country! 

BROWN. Howdy, Mae. How much money i& 
likely to be in sight? 

MT'. He has about five thousand, as lu^arly as I 
can discover. 

BROWK T^m-huh. If we had that monf^v on those 
notes of yours 

M'C. You do not need it. He thinks I am worth 
money. If the play runs to a large figure, I will ex 
]>lain to him, and he will allow the notes. I hav(^ had 
liim in tow. and he thinks I'm made of raonev. 

(BROWN AND SMITH LAT^GH.) 

JONES ((M)M[NG DOWN FRONT WITH DOC 
TOR). Are these your friends. Mr. McClellan? 

M'C Yes. I'ermit me. Mr. Jones, Mr. Smith; 
Mr. Brown. And this (AVINKS AT THE DOCTOR) is 
Dr. Green, from Rock Island. 

SMITH. Green, my boy, delighted. How do vou 
find Chicago? (SHAKES HANDS.) 

BR( )WN. Delighted, old br;v. (SHAKES HANDS 
WITH DOCTOR.) How's all the family? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. You fello^vs are darn easy 
to git acquainted with, ain't ye? 

SAHTH. Well, you see. living in the metroi>olis, 
we get used to moving quickly. I su])pose Vou take a 
week to know a. man in the country ? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. An' sometimes longer. 
l?ut when we finish there ain't much left. 

BROWN. Know Chicago pretty well? 

DOCTOR. I went through here in '70 when I comf^ 
M'est. 

BROWN. It's changed since then. There's been 
two new buildings put up on State street.. (WINKS AT 
SMITH.) 

DOCTOR. You fellers are kiddin' the old doctor, 
ain't ve? See here, how long ye been in Cliicauo? 

BROWN. I "growed" here. 

DOCTOR. Ye "growed" here. Well, can ye nam(> 
every street, alley and buildin' that ye would go 
throu'rh in jroin' straight from here to the lake? 

BROWN. Well, hardly. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. I thought ye couldn't. Well. 1 
can name every street, or allev and buildin' in vour 



59 

Old (.-areas beginnin' anywhere and comin^ out any- 
where. I can cut into your neck here (TAKES HOLD 
OF HIM) and run a hole clear through, and miss every 
artery and dodge all bones, an' not even make ye sick. 
Bodies are the same in Chicago and everywhere else, 
an' I "growed up" studyin' them. 'Pears to me I know 
my kingdom best. 

M'O. Dr. (Ireen is on to vou, Browuy. 

SMITH (EFFORT TO GET EVEN WITH DOC). 
Well, I don't know. Doctors are pretty good, I sup- 
pose. But I've doctored with Homo-"patty," Allo- 
"pattv" and quack and I never saw the use of them. 

DOCTOR. Well, that's no wonder. You can't 
malce brick out of gumbo. The Lord made man out of 
clay, with a bit of sand to spice him. You can doctor 
gumbo allo-"patty" and homo-"patty"; quack and Billy 
Deacon's wife, but it's still gumbo. I don't believe a 
miracle could make a man of you. 

1*ET. I have always noticed that when a man gets 
si.'k he wants two things right away, no matter who 
be may be. First, the woman, and next, the doctor. 

JONES, (lentlemen, I think the time will go more 
agreeablv if we sit down. 

(ALL SIT AT CENTRE TABLE AND WELL TO 
THE FRONT.) 

JONES. Brown, I think you and Doctor Oreen 
better call it quits. Scads! 

SCADS (APPROACHING). Yes, sah. 

JONES. Bring wine and a few decks. 

SCADS. Yes sah. (EXIT L. U. E.) 

M'C. (TO KEEP UP DECEPTION BEFORE 
S]\IITH AND BROWN). Doctor, I have a great re- 
spect for a man of medicine. I put in three years at 
Rush, mvself. 

DOCTOR (FOLLOWING DICK'S LEAD). In^ 
deed! Have you ever practiced? 

M'C. No. You see, the faculty 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-ves. No diploma? 

M'C. Exactlv. 

D0CTOR( LOOKING ABOFT HIM). Did this— 
take too much time? 

M'C. I fear it did. 

(ENTER SCADS L. WITH CHAMPAGNE.^ 



60 

ISMITH. Chaiuptione, by craokyl Jonesv\ my 
bo3% you do us liouoi'. 

JONES. Tliank you. (POURS WINE.) 

liRO\^'N. If I may be allowed to propose a toast. 
Here's to Green and his physic ! 

SMITH. Ureen and his plivsic! 

M'C. (LOOKING HARD AT THE DOCTOR). May 
it always make the band play! 

(ALL DRINK SAVE DOCTOR HUNTER. HE 
HOLDS HIS GLASS TO THE LIGHT.) 

BROWN. What's the matter, Doe? Is it full 
of baccilicusses? 

M'C. The Doctor explained to me to-day gentle- 
men. He says a yery little wine upsets him. He wants 
to be excused. (MAKES FA(^ES AT SMITH AND 
EROWN, INDICATIN(i FOR THEM NOT TO MIND 
THE COI'NTRYMAN.) 

SMITH. Oh. certainly. Here, gimme your glass. 
(HE DRINKS DOCTOR'S WINE.) That bea is all your 
physic, old Pill Bags! Ha-ha-ha! 

(SCADS POURS ALL AROI'ND SAVE IN D0(^- 
TOR'S GLASS AND RETIRES L.) 

DOCTOR. If you'll juet keep that up a while. I 
shall feel proud to play with you. 

SMITH. Oh. excuse me. ' (TO BRl^WN.) Damn 
this stuckup old moss-back! Let's squeeze him for 
(^yery dollar he's got! 

BROWN (TO SMITH). You bet. 

(ENTER SCADS WITH CARDS.) 

(THEY PLAY IN SILENCE, DURING WHICH 
"ROI^LETTE WHEEL" GIVES HIS (^\LLS. DICK'S 
DEAL AT vSTART. BROWN WINS. THEY DEAL 
AROI^ND IN TURN, BROWN. DOCTOR, JONES, 
S:\nTH. THE GAME RUNS IN SILEN( ^E . BETTING 
AND WINNING AS THE CARDS RT^N, TILL ON 
JONES' FIRST DEAL DICK WINS. SMITH IS 
NEXT TO DEAL AND ON THIS AND THE SUC- 
CESSIVE DEALS AROUND TO JONES AGAIN 
THEY BET AND WIN AS THE CARDS RUN. ON 
JONES' DEAL DOCTOR HUNTER GETS FOUR 



r.i 
A(^ES^. HE RAISES UNTIL SMITH AND lUiOWN 

ARE exhausted; they have good hands 

AND WANT TO STAY IN. BROWN LOOKS AT 
-M'CLELLAN INQUIRIN(iLY, AND HE NODS.) 

BROWN. Gentlemen, me an' m}'- friend Smitli 
holds Mac's notes for a trifle over five thousand dollars. 
If you will allow us to use them we can stay in. Other- 
wise, we must drop. 

(THEY PRODUf^E THE NOTES. M'GLELLAN 
INSPECTS THEM.) 

M'C. They are genuine. (LOTn)LY.) I acknowl- 
edge the signatures! 

(HARRY AND PETENGIL ENTER L. PET- 
TENGIL CROSSES TO SCADS' DOOR.) 

(DOCTOR READS THE ENDORSEMENTS, 
M'CLELLAN HIDING HIS OWN SK^NATURES.) 

DOCTOR (WITH SUPPRESSED EXCITEMENT). 
All right. 

W(\ The Doctor is satisfied, gentlemen. ^lake 
vour bets. 

(THE DOCTOR RAISES TILL HE IS EXHAUST- 
ED, SMITH AND BROWN I'SIN(5 THE NOTES.) 

-TONES. Well, this is getting t(»o sti'ong for me. 
I withdraw. 

M'C. Here, too! 

DOCTOR. Will you lend me this? (POINTS TO 
JONES' MONEY.) Mac. here, knows that I am good 
for it. 

JONES. Certainlv. (HANDS HIM MONEYS) 

(THE DOCTOR THEN EXHAT^STS SMITH AND 
P>ROWN. HE PICKS TTR THE NOTES TO READ 
THEM. SEES THE SIGNATT'RE.) 

DOCTOR (IN STTRPRISE, TO M'CLELLAN). 
Y^)u? 

M'C Doctor Hunter, before you stir ]iromisc me 
one thing. Never tell your daughter what you have 
found out tonight! 

DOCTOR (RISING). Don't worry, sir! I won't 
tell. I'm as ashamed of it as you are. It was for you 
that my boy signed these notes, and vou mv guest! 

SMITH. Doctoi- Hunter! Is this '- 



62 

(HARRY COMES TO THE TABLE; THE DOC- 
TOR STEPS BACK WITH THE NOTES.) 

M'C. Plav your hand, Doctor ! 

DOCTOR (PICKS UP HIS HAND, FOUR ACES, 
AND THROWS IT ON THE TABLE FACE UP). 
There voii are. Harry, my boy, you didn't tell nie you 
did this for HIM. 

SMITH. Hell and blazes! Harry Hunter, is this 
your old man? 

DOCTOR. You bet it's his "old man!" 

SMITH. Well, this won't do. Where are you go 
ing with those notes? 

DOCTOR. Going? Oh-h-h-h! Cxoing to hear the 
band play!!! 

(SMITH ATTEMPTS TO DRAW A REVOLVER 
BUT IS COVERED BY REVOLVER IN HANDS OP 
M'CLELLAN. HARRY COVERS BROWN. JONES 
PLACES HIS HANDS OVER THE MONEY. PET- 
TEN(HL OPENS DOOR R. AND ALLOWS THE DOC- 
TOR TO RUN OUT.) 



CURTAIN. 



63 



DorTOR HUNTER. 

ACT IV. 

(September. "\A'eddin's, weddin's, weddin's".) 

SCENE: SAME AS ACT L, SAVE NO BED. 
EOFR O'CLOCK P. M. TREPARING FOR A G 
0'(^LJCK WEDDING AND SUPPER. LON(} TA- 
I3LE SET AT RACK OF STAGE.) 

DISCOVERED: MOTHER RUSHFORD, FAN 
CHON, HARRIET, NAN AND PRIVATE PETTEN- 
(HL. 

I»ET (STANDS AT DOOR R. ^^ITH EXPRESS 
PACKAGE. IS DRESSED FOR WEDDING, SAVE 
THAT HE IS IN HIS SHIRT SLEEVES). Seems as if 
a weddin' made more rumpus than an election. 

NAN. Oil, no, Uncle Cy. There's no torchlights 
nor speechmaking. 

PET. There's lots of speechmakin' my girl. 
Softest kind of speeches, too! 

MOTHER R. Now, Uncle Cy, anyone would think 
von knew! 

PET. (NOT NOTICING THE THRUST). Nan, the 
bovs is goin' to "shiveree" 'em! 

NAN (DANCING ABOITT). Oh, good, good! 

HARRIET. "Shiveree?" ^Vhat in the world is 
that? 

NAN. Ha-ha-ha! You'll find out to-night! 

PET. "Shiveree," Miss Josselyn, is what the boys 
call it. They go to a house where there is a weddin' 
goin' on, an' when the preacher says "Amen" tlie^' 
I)ound on tin pans, and yell like sixty. Then the groom 
goes out and gives 'em money to buy drinks, and then 
the whole gang escorts the liap})y pair to the depot. 

HARRIET. Goodness! Then I'm very glad I'm 
to have no wedding trip. 

FAN. Harry and I will have to \^a\k the plank. 

NAN. What hav<^ you got there, T^ncle Cy? 



64 

PET. An express package for Hairy Iruiu Chi- 
cago. 

NAN (TAKES IT). Oh, it's from Mr. McCnelhml 
I'm going toi open it ! 

MOTHER R. Nan Rushford, don't you do any 
such thing. Talie it in the parlor and leave it till 
Harry conies. 

NAN. Oh, well, it's for the bride, anyway 1 

FAN. Nan, put it in the parlor. I may not open 
Harry's packages just yet. 

NAN. Oh, dear, vou don't tell me? My, but you'll 
get over that! (EXIT TO THE 1^VRL()R WITH 
BUNDLE.) 

(ENTER ANNIE HUNTER FRO^I OUT OF 
DOORS CARRYING HARRIET'S DRESS.) 

ANNIE. Here's vour dress. Aunt Hattibelie. 
(LAYS IT DOWN.) 

MOTHER R. Aunt Hattibelie! II will be Mother 
Hattibelie soon now. 

ANNIE. Yes, and I will be so glad. (KISSES 
HARRIET.) 

FAN. Me, too. (KISSES ANNIE.) 

PET. Just as though they wouldn't g(-t enough of 
that without practicin' among themselves! 

MOTHER R. Well, I guess Nan and I can do tlie 
rest. Now you two go with Annie and be getting 
dressed. It's after four and this wedding is at six. 

(ENTER NAN FROM PARLOR.) 

NAN. Hello, Annie. Ooing to dress the brides? 

ANNIE. The brides! How large that sounils for 
Riverside! 

FAN. (STANDING WITH HARRIET). The two 
brides. The two Mrs. Doctors Hunter. 

HARRIET. How odd it sounds. I shall still be 
Hattie, and Hattibelie. "Mrs. Dr. Huntei-" frightens 
me. Come Annie. (TAKES BI'NDLE.) Conie and 
dress the brides. Your mother and vour sister. (EXIT 
FAN, HARRIET AND ANNIE.) 

MOTHER R. Come, Nan. hel]) me finish. A 
double weddin' makes a deal of work. T'ncle Cy. 

PET. That's a fact! Evervone's been busv all 



65 

day. Doc ain't Wen to the office orn-k-. He "^ (txei- To 
the liouse fixiu' up to beat 2:401 

XAX. Well, wouldn't you. if vou were to be a 
firooni ? 

CAI'T (WITHOUT. SHOI'TS TLEASAXTLY. 
THOUGH ROUrTHtn. V^Tiere's that damn'd old 
Sixth Maine Vet? I've been huntin' him fer most a 
week. Someone told me he was here! <EXTEE 
FROM OUT OF DOORS, i TTi-ha-ha-ha: Where ve 
re been all day. vou dam'd old rebel hunter! Ha-ha-h ; ! 

PET. (GOOD XATUREDLYi. Oh. every place. 

GAPT. Well, are ye croin" to stand u]» with Doi-. 
<tr not. that's what I'm after? 

PET. S'ose I'll have ter. But my close ain't fit! 

GAP'T. Kt ! It's you Doc wants, not your close. 
Now. you sneak an' jrit fixed. It's most time. 

PET. Won't take me lonsr. Just put on my coat. 
(EXIT OUT OF DOORS. I 

GAP'T. Xow. Mother, you an" Xan must hurry. 

]\IOTHER. Yes. we can 2:0 now. 

PET. (AT DOOR I. Here comes the Doctor! 
Sprucer'n a new tele^rraph pole! (EXIT.) 

GAP'T. Gee whiz! An" I bet he prouder 'n four 
T»cmdholders! 

(EXTER DR. HUXTER FROM OUT DOORS. 
DRESSED FOR WEDDIXG.) 

GAP'T. Xew close. Doc? 

DR. X-n-n-ves. Harrv had 'em made. Do thev 
fit? 

MOTHER. Splendid. Xan. look at the Doctor. 

XAX. Oh. Doctor Hunter, you look well enough 
to £:et married every day! 

GAP'T. Well, vou two scoot, now. I'll take care 
of Doc. 

(EXIT XAX AXD MOTHER UPSTAIRS TO 
DRESS.) 

DR. Am I all here, Gapn? 

GAP'T. All there. Doc. You look fine! 

DR. You otiirht to see Harry. Got his travel in' 
suit on. 

GAP'T. If he beats vou he must be sreat. 



66 

DR. It's a queer weddin', ain't it, Cap'n. 

( vVP'T. Uh-liuh. But it suits us all Doc. Any- 
thin<;' that goes your way always seems to be about 
riglit. Mother would have laid it agin ye all her life, 
if ye hadn't let the two weddin's been here. 

DR. N-n-n-yes. Guess that's right, Cap'n. 

(ENTER ANNIE.) 

ANNIE. Oh, Father, how nice thev look! 

DR. Thev look? Who look? 

TAP'T. ila-ha-ha! He-e-e! Them close. Doc. 
She ain't seen you yet. Huh, ha-ha-ha! 

(EXIT TAP'T TO DRESS, LAUGHINO AS HE 
GOES.) 

ANNIE, You look just splendidly, Father, You 
and Harry will make a fine pair of bridegrooms. 

DR. N-n-n-yes. You must run and get dressed, 
child. It's gettin' most time I 

AN-NIE. Yes, Father. But I want to ask you 
something first . (EARNESTLY.) Falhi^r, why didn't 
Mr. McCellan accept Harry's invitation to come to this 
wedding? 

DR. (PERPLEXED). N-n-n-yes. I guess it was 
because — Harrv didn't ask him. 

ANNIE (SITRPRISED). Harry didn't ask him! 
Why, Harry promised me he would ask him. Why 
didn't he ask him. Father. 

DR. (QUIETLY. SOFT MUSIG) Annie, my dear, 
do you care so very inuch? 

ANNIE (SLOWLY.) I am very much disappoint- 
ed. I hoped to see him here again. 

DR. Annie, dear, listen to your old dad for a min 
ute. I hope you are not thinking of that yoaug man 
very much. I have pot told you what ha])pened in 
riiicago last July. But, my dear, we found out several 
things about Mr. McClellan. He did Harry and me r 
big ifavor, but still I'm sorry that he ever came here 
You must put him out of this pretty little head, amJ 
think of that fine, manly young fellow who will ask me 
for von some da v. 

ANNIE (SUPPRESSED EMOTION). What— did 
von — find out. Father? 



67 

DR. Nun yes. Lots of thinj>s, my girl. ^lorc 
than you will ever know. Now, you run home and 
dress for the wedding-. Don't think any more about 
him. for if you do Father will be very much displeased. 
(KISSEH HER.) Now, run along. It's getting near 
the time for the minister to come. (EXIT TO PAR- 
LOR.) 

ANNIE (SOLUS) Harry didn't invite him I 

"Lots of things More than you will ever know." 

Oh, dear, what does it all mean? My Dick! Oh, dear. 
I shall never see him again. (SOBS.) Dick, Dick, my 
heart is breaking for you, and you do not know it I 

(ENTER PETTENGIL FROM OFT OF DOORS. 
HAS COAT ON.) 

PET. Where's Doc? 

(ANNIE POINTS IN PARLOR.) 

PET. (NOTICES ANNIE'S CRYING). Ol' man 
Norton's sick an' thev want Doc. (GOES TO DOOR 
OF PARLOR.j Oh, Doc ! 

DR. (WITHIN). What say-e-e! 

PET. or Norton's sick. They want ye. 

DR. (ENTER). Ol' Norton. N-n-n-yes. I'll bet he 
got sick on purpose to send for me. It's most timi^ for 
the weddin's. Well, I'm glad he don't live outside the 
village. I'm glad it ain't a call to Watertown or over 
to the Cilfe. 

PET. "St. Louis" is hitchin' up fer ve. 

DR. All right, Cy. Tell 'em I'll be right back. 
(EXIT OI^T OF DOORS.) 

PET. Annie, child, v.hat ye cryin' 'bout? Is thi& 
weddin' too much for ye? Why. child, ye ain't got yer 
new dress on yit! 

ANNIE. Uncle Cy, I want you to tell me some 
thing, honest! Why didn't Harry ask Mr. McClellan 
to come to the wedding? 

PET. (UTTERS A LOW WHISTLE). What ye 
want to know fer? 

ANNIE. Because — I — I — hoped he'd come. 

PET. (ASIDE). I was afraid she thought too much 
of him. (TO HER.) Annie, child, he ain't a flt man fer 
vou to be thinkin' of. He is 



68 

ANNIE (ANGRY). Not lit! Not fit! Oh, how 
can jou talk so! Didn't he come here! Didn't he help 
Harry recover those notes? Didn't we all like him? 
And now you say lie's not fit to come here aj^ain. You 
are mean, unjust, cruel, all of vou! 

PET. Help Harry recover the notes? \Yell, 1 

should smile! Why, he^ (CHECKS HIMSELF. 

ASIDE.) Oh, i)oor Annie. She does not know. And 
she loves him because he helped ^et them back. (TO 
HER.) Annie, what has vour Father told vou? 

ANNIE (PACING THE FLOOR). :\lore than I 
think he ouji,ht to have said. ITnde Cy. I am ?;oiuji' to 
Chicajio to find Dick McClellan! 

PET. ToChicajio! You! Why. child, you d<m't 
know what that means. 

ANNIE. I know that I love him, and that y!)u are 
all a.e:ainst him. I am oroino- to find him. I will t<dl 
him all. He will take care of me. 

PET. (ASIDE). Oh, innocence! If she but knew 
the full meanino- of all she savs! (TO HER, ^AITH 
SUDDEN DETERMINATION.) If you ^o y„„ mnst 
let me go with you. You must not run away to Chicago 
alone. 

ANNIE. Honestly, Fn cle Cy ? Will you go ? 

PET. Honestly! The old soldier means busini^ss! 

ANNIE. Then we must go on the late train. 
After Harry and Fanchon go, there will be lots to do, 
and in the excitement w^e can get to the train un- 
noticed. After we are on the train, I don't care who 
knows about it! 

PET. All right, child. Now run home and dress 
for the wedding. And after it's over w-e will pack our 
grips and elope all bv oui-selves, w^m't we. eh? 
(PTTSHES HER OFT OF DOORS.). 

PET. (SOLUS). Oh. my God, my God! To think 
that an innocent heart should have to be broken over 
that gambler's card table. Cyrus Pettengil, this is the 
worst campaign you ever got into. You are general, 
ai-my, baggage and everythino- else. I wonder if it 
would be safe to let her see him? Would he try to 
keep her? 

(ENTER HARRY FROM OI^T OF DO(^RS, 
DRESSED FOR HIS WEDDING.) 



69 

HARRY. Say, Uncle Cy, what ails Annie? She 
l»assed nie, crjing, and wouldn't speak to nie. What's 
gone wrong? 

PET. "Gone wrong?" It's another chapter in 
the history of that gambling scrape of yours! 

HARRY. You don't mean Oh, poor Annie! 

Then we've got to tell her the truth! Dick's a gambler, 
and I'm a wretch. Oh, this is elegant foi' a wedding cir- 
cumstance! 

(ENTER DOCTOR HITNTER. STANDS AT 
iH)Oli HIDDEN FROM PETTENOIL AND HARRY.) 

PET. That ain't all of it. She's goin' to run 
away to Chicago to find him. 

HARRY. Run away! Our little Annie alone in 
Chicago! \Xh}\ I'd shoot her first! 

PET. I'm goin' to do something that takes a heap 
mor(^ coui'age 'n that. I'm goin' with her! 

MARRY. With her? 

PET. You told me that that feller promised he'd 
ti'll her tlie truth, didn't ye? 

HARRY. Yes, lie promised that. He sim])ly re- 
i-'('rved the I'ight to do it his own way. 

I^ET. His own way, eh? Well, when I find him 
I'll show him Annie in one hand and a gun in the other 
an' by the hell he'll tell her. damn quick! Now you 
watch! 

HARRY. I don't believe you will have to go. 1 
think that if I could reach him by telegraph he would 
do it at once. 

PET. Anything is worth trying now. She'll do it, 
sure, if we don't prevent it I 

HARRY. Do you think she would if I told her the 
whole story? 

PET. Yes. She Avould think yon unfair to him. 
She's too worked up to be talked over. It don't seem 
like our little Annie. 

HARRY. Well, here goes. (WRITES TELE- 
GRAM.) There. (READS.) '\\nnie planning to luu 
awav to find vou. Wire her at once not to po." 

PET. (TAKES MESSAGE AND REVDS IT 
THEN HANDS IT BACK), No. 

HARRY. Why not? 

PET. "Annie phtnning to run awav.'' This town 



70 

is jnst big enoiigli for that to be in everyone's month in 
an honr! 

HARRY. Gness that's right. (WRITES AN- 
OTHER AND HANDS IT TO I'ETTENGIL.) 

PET. (READS). ''You made me a promise. Keep 
it at once by wire," That's good. 

HARRY. I've directed it to "219." He will get it 
there, if he's in Chicago. 

PET. I'll send "St. Louis" to the telegTaph of- 
fice with this, and tell him to wait for an answer. 
(STARTS TO GO OUT OF DOORS.) 

(DOCTOR HUNTER STEPS INTO ROOM AND 
CONFRONTS PETTENGIL.) 

DOCTOR (QUIETLY, BUT FIRMLY). Harry, 
take my horse and buggy and drive over to Norton's. 
Tell 'em I am busy. Send "St. Louis" here to me. 

HARRY. All right. Father. (EXIT OUT OF 
DOORS.) 

DOCTOR. Cy, is this true 

PET. Sure enough. Doc. 

DOCTOR. I have been blind. I should have told 
her the truth. P.ut she seems su<-h a child. Our 
Annie ! 

(ENTER "ST. LOUTS" FRO]\I OT^T OF IX^ORS.) 

PET. Shall I send it. Doc? 

DOCTOR (WITH A SIGH). Yes, anything, now. 

PET. (TO "ST. LOI^IS"). Take this to the depot 
and stay there for an answer. 

DOCTOR. Stay until I come for you, unless an 
answer comes. If there's an answer bring it here as 
fast as you can! 

St! L. Yes, sah! Stay dere all night, 'f yo' say 
so, sah ! (EXIT OUT OF DOORS.) 

DOCTOR (QUIETLY). When is she goin', Cy? 

PET. On the up train, late. 

DOCTOR. Couldn't ye persuade her to give it up? 

PET. Don't think so, Doc. It's Annie's first love, 
an' it's a mightv strong one! 

DOCTOR. ' Do vou think I could stop her? 

PET. (QUIETLY). No, Doc. The P»ible says a 
woman is to leave her father and mother for the man 



she loves. Annie was a girl yesterday, she's a woman 
to-day. If you step in, there'll be a scene tliat '11 end no 
one knows where. 

DOCTOR (RESIGNEDLY). She always did take 
after her mother. 

PET. It's only a matter of saving her from run- 
ning awav. If she goes, I'm going, too. l>ut I hate to 
think of it! 

DOCTOR. Got any money? 

PET. Gosh, no! 

DOCTOR (TAKES THREE RILLS FROM Ills 
POCKET, SMOOTHES AND HANDS TIIE^l OA^ER 
TO PETTENGIL). That's all I've got. I'll do some 
collectin' to-morrow^ and send vou some more. 

PET. (COI^NTS THE MONEY). Fifteen dollars. 
That's most a plentv, anvhow. Dor. 

DOCTOR (MEDITATIVELY). If that telegram 
does come, it'll be all right. (SITDDENLY.) Say, 
what will we do with it? Read it to her? 

PET. "Sense me! You read it to her. I'd rather 
be shot at ! 

DOCTOR (THINKS A MINUTE). I'll get Harriet 
to do it. 

(ENTER CLI^MSY FROM PARLOR DRESSED 
FOR WEDDING.) 

CLUMSY (BASHFI^LLY). Hc^llo. Doctor. Huh- 
huh-huh! 

DOCTOR. Oh, Mr. Rushford, I believe. I hardly 
knew you, inside all those clothes. 

CLUMSY. T^h-huh! Say, I don't dare go dowr. 
tovv'u. The kids 'u'd spit on my boots! Huh-huh-huh! 

DOCTOR. D(m't Let "St.Louis" get hold of you. 
He might get envious. 

(ENTER NAN DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING.) 

NAN. Here comes the minister! (RUNS TO 
OUTER DOOR AND ADMITS REV. HARPER.) 

(ENTER REV. HARPER.) 

REV. H. Ah. how do you do, Annette? 

(ENTER CAP'N AND MOTHER R. FROM V \R 
LOR.) 



REV. H. And how do you do. Doctor? 

1)C)CT0R. How do, Harper. You're on time. 

CAP'T. How do, Harper. Where's the Missses? 

REV. H. She was detained at home. 1 fear she 
will not be here. 

MOTHER R. Oh, I'm so sorry. 

CAP'T. Well, ^o into the parlor. Harper. 

(EXIT TO PARLOR, HARPER, MOTHER AND 
NAN, CHATTERING.) 

CAP'T. Uh, ha-ha-ha! He-e-e-e! Look at that 
damn bov! Uh, huh-huh!. 

(^LUMSY. Uh, huh-hnh-huh! 

CAP'T. He's more of a dude than Harry is in that 
traA'ellin' suit o' his'n! 

(ENTER ANNIE FROM OUT OF DOORS IN 
FULL DRESS FOR WEDDING. CROSSES TO PAR 
LOR IN SILENCE. PETTENGIL AND DOCTOR EX 
CHAN(^E GLANCES.) 

CAP'T. Gee whiz! Say. ain't she pretty! She's 
a fit one to stand side o' my Fan! Come on "Clumsy.'' 
see if you can get through the door with them damn 
clothes! Huh-ha-ha-ha! 

CLUMSY. Huh-ha-haha! (GOES AWKWARD 
LY INTO PARLOR.) 

(EXIT CAP'T TO PARLOR LAUGHING AT 
"CLUMSY.") 

(VOICES OF GI^ESTS HEARD CHATTIN(t IN 
THE PARLOR, AND THEN CAP'T'S HEARTY 
LAUGH.) 

(ENTER HARRY FROM OTTT OF DOORS.) 

DOCTOR. How's Norton ? 

HARRY. All right. Summer complaint. Sent 
his regards. 

DOCTOR. Well, I hope no one else sends for me 
till after the ceremony. 

HARRY. What have you done — about — Annie? 

DOCTOR. We are trying to prevent her going, 
without letting her know it. 

PET. Hello, here comes the brides! 

(ENTER NAN, FANCHON AND HARRIET 



73 

FROM TARLOR. THE BRIDES IN OOMrLETE 
BRIDAL COt^TUME.) 

NAN. Here tliev are. A private exhibition be- 
fore the performance. 

HARRY (GOING TO FANCHON). My dear, you 
are a real beauty. (KI!^?SES HER.) 

FANCHON. I am glad you like me. Now say 
good bve to Fanchon Rushford while you have an op- 
portunity. (ANOTHER KISS.) 

(FANCHON AND HARRY GO TO R.) 

DOCTOR. Most time for the big show to open, 
ain't it? Say, I'm nervous! 

HARRIET. This is only a side show, -hist for 
practice. 

PET. Ha-ha-ha! That's what Jenks said when — 

NAN (INTERRUPTING). Uncle Cy! 

PET. Oh, excuse me. I forgot! 

HARRIET. Mr. Pettengil, I am getting curious to 
hear that story about old Jenks and the baud. Won't 
you tell me! 

(NAN SHRIEKS WITH LAI^GHTER, WHILE 
PETTENGIL STANDS ABASHED.) 

PET. Yes— er— yes. Ha-ha! But I'd rather— 
you'd ask Harry. 

HARRY. Well, not oh vour "sixteenth button." 

HARRIET (TO THE DOCTOR). Well, then, you 
will have to tell me. 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. (CHT'CKLES). I'll tell ye 
— after the ceremonv! 

(ALL LAUGH.) 

REV. H. (AT DOOR). I don't wish to interru])t, 
but mav I examine the necessary papers? 

DOCTOR. Cv, vou've cot 'em. 

(EXIT PETTENGIL TO PARLOR WITH REV. 
HARPER.) 

DOCTOR. Hattie. I have somethinj': to tell you 
about Annie. It's verv iniDortant. 

HARRIET. About Mr, McClellan? T have sus 
pected it. I wish we had told her the truth at the time. 

DOCTOR. That's not the worst of it. She's plan- 
ninir to run awav to Chicago to find him 

HARRIET.' Oh, no, no! We must not let her? 
She is so voung! She does not realize what it means! 



74 

(ENTER "ST. LOUIS" FROM OUT OF DOORS,, 
ON THE RUN.) 

HARRY. Did he answer? 

ST. L. (BETWEEN GASPS FOR RREATH). De 

depot — man — say — tell Massa — Harry dat — "Chicago" 
— cavn't find— McClellan! 

HARRY. Well, that settles thntl What shall 
we do now? 

(ENTER MOTHER FROM PARLOR WITH EX 
I'RESS PACKAGE. PETTENGIL FOLLO^VS.) 

MOTHER. Harry, here's an express package you 
haven't opened. 

HARRY (TAKES IT ABSENTLY, BT'T IS ELEC 
TRIFIEl) AT THE EXPRESS MARK). From (^licM 
go! (OPENS. IT IS A CASE OF Sn.VER WITH A 
LETTER INSIDE. TAKES OUT LETTER.) Fron> 
McClellan! (READS, THEN HANDS TO DOCTOR.) 
There it is; all there. 

DOCTOR (READS LETTER). "My dear Harry. 
Accept this token of my regard, and expi'ess to your 
beautiful wife my sincere best wishes. I would hn,y(- 
felt honored to stand by your side during the sacred 
ceremony, which is to bind you two with golden links, 
but as f know myself to be a gambler, with all my 
faults 'learn'd and conn'd by rote' by you and yours, I 
cannot bring myself to face yon. Believe me, sincerelv 
your debtor in many ways, and wishing yon and yonrs 
long life and happiness. Richard McClellan." 

(ALL STAND IN SILENCE.) 

(ENTER ANNIE FROM PARLOR.) 

ANNIE. Come, all of you. The minister is ready. 
Why, what is the matter? Why do you all look at 
me so? 

HARRIET. Annie, my child, we are all sorry for 
you, and we want you to pnt this rash i)lan out of 
vonr heart. 

ANNIE (STARTLED). Who told you? Oh, 
Uncle Cv, couldn't yon keep my secret! 

HARRIET. Mv dear, read this letter. 

ANNIE (BRIGHTLY). Oh. it's from him! (SHE 
READS AND THEN FALLS SOBBING ON HAR 
RIET'S BREAST. HARRY PICKS UP LETER.) 



(ENTER OAr'T AND CLUMSY FROM PARLOR.) 

CAP'T (NOTICING SOMETHING OUT THE 
WINDOW). ClumsY, there's a stranger outside with 
a horse 'n' buggy. Go and see what he wants. 

(EXIT CLUMSY OUT OF DOORS.) 

DOCTOR. Annie, dear child! (TAKES HER IN 
HIS ARMS), Are ve ervin' because yer old dad is goin' 
to be married! (MAKES SIGNS TO COMPANY NOT 
TO LET HER KONW THAT HE KNOAVS THE 
TRUTH.) 

I*ET. Weddin's, weddin's, weddin's. There's too 
n.anv of 'em for her. 

ANNIE (SOBBING). Oh, Father. d(^ar Father! 
You won't ever let me go awav frora home, will vou? 

DOCTOR. No, no! ' 

ANNIE. And if .1 should ever run away, you will 
follow me and bring me home, won't you? 

DOCTOR. N-n-n-yes. I'll bring you home two or 
three times. Now, don't cry. dear. It's time for the 
weddin'. Come, the minister is waiting. 

REV. H. (AT PARLOR DOOR). Are we all ready ? 

DOCTOR (COAXINGLY). Come, Annie, come. 

PET. (ASIDE). This love maldn' business affects 
different folks — different! 

(DOCTOR AND ANNIE START TOWARD I* AR- 
DOR DOOR.) 

(ENTER CLUMSY FROM 01 'T OF DOORS EX 
CITEDLY. HE STANDS BESIDE THE DOOR AND 
REVEALS M'CLELLAN IN DOORWAY.) 

CLI'MSY. Here's Mr. McClellan ! 

ALL. McClellnn! 

DOCTOR (FIRMLY). Mr. Mcdellan. you were my 
guest, but I cannot w^elcome you again. 

M'C. (SLOWLY). And you are entirely right, sir. 
I have caused you much pain and annoyance. Harry, 
did you get my letter? 

HARRY. Yes, old man. It was a square deal. 
It did the business. 

WC. (QUIETLY). I firmly intended to do as I said, 

but I could not. May I — stand outride the window 

during' the ceremonv? 



76 

ANNIE (RUNNING TO HIM). No, no! Dick, you 
shall come in! (TAKES HIS HAND.) 

M'C. (QUIETLY). No, Annie. Not until Doctor 
Hunter bids me enter. Doctor Hunter, that night in 
Chicago, just before we won back those notes of mine, 
I admitted to Harry that I was — a gambler. He told 
me that Annie loved me, and I let it go at that. Since 
that night there has been but one face before my eyes, 
one voice in my brain, one purpose growing in my 
heart. The tiger has lost its power, and I come down 
here by the big river, where things are real and hearts 
are honest, and where a stronger voice calls me. 1 
want to begin anew. To put my fortune, my profes- 
sion, my life to some good. Won't you — help me? 

(M'CLELLAN STANDS LOOKING AT THE DOO- 
TOR. ANNIE, STILL HOLDING HIS HAND, EX 
TENDS A HANI) TOWARD HER FATHER IN 
MUTE APPEAL.) 

DOCTOR (QUIETLY). Annie, do you believe in 
him? 

ANNIE (LOOKS AT M'CLELLAN A MOMENT, 
THEN SAYS, FIRMLY). Yes, Father. 

(DOCTOR LOOKS AT HARRIET, WHO MAKES 
SIGN OF ASSENT. THEN HE HOLDS HIS HAND 
TO M'CLELLAN WHO COMES DOWN AND CLASPS 
IT. ANNIE HIDES HER FACE ON HARRIET'S 
SHOULDER. CAP'T AND MOTHER STAND WITH 
REV. HARPER BY L. U. E. NAN AND PETTENGIL 
L. HARRY AND FANCHON R. "(^LUMSY" AND 
"ST. LOUIS" BY DOOR LEADING OUT OF DOORS.) 

CURTAIN. 



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